PAL Holdings president Lucio Tan Jr. hospitalized, now in stable condition

MANILA, Philippines — Lucio “Bong” Tan Jr., president of airline operator PAL Holdings Inc., was hospitalized on Saturday after he collapsed during a basketball game in Mandaluyong City.

A statement released by the Tan family today said Tan was admitted to a nearby hospital. He remains in “stable condition.”

“He is currently under observation and will undergo a series of diagnostic tests,” according to the statement. “During this difficult time, the Tan family is requesting media and the public to respect their privacy.”

A two-minute video of the basketball game between the PAL and Exile teams appeared to show the moment when Tan, the son and namesake of billionaire Lucio Tan, collapsed.

The video, which was seen by the Inquirer, showed a player taking a defensive position before abruptly walking away from the game toward the bleachers and then collapsing. The commentator in the video could be heard saying it was Bong Tan who had collapsed. In the latter part of the video, the player was seen being carried by his team members away from the scene.

Tan had just assumed the post of PAL Holdings president and chief operating officer last Oct. 28. He replaced Gilbert Santa Maria, who remains president of the operating company, PAL Inc.