Antonio Cabangon-Chua

Antonio L. Cabangon-Chua (August 30, 1934 – March 11, 2016) was a Filipino businessman, Philippine ambassador to Laos under the administration of former president Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, and reserved colonel of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, being an honorary member of Philippine Military Academy class of 1956. He graduated from the University of the East in the same year, with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration degree.

He received a doctorate in the Humanities, honoris causa, from the Adamson University.

Early life

Being called "Tony", Cabangon–Chua, born in 1934, was the only child of a Chinese lumber dealer, Tomas Chua, and a Filipino, Dominga Lim Cabangon (1910–1962).[1] His mother would later be a philanthropist. The family once lived a middle class life at Leveriza Street, Malate, Manila, until their house was destroyed during the Second World War.[1] His father was said executed by the Japanese in Fort Santiago in 1944.

His family experienced living in extreme poverty thereafter;[1]

Career

Shortly after his graduation, Cabangon–Chua worked at an accounting firm. He then opened Filipinas Pawnshop in 1958. He worked on and eventually became one of the country's millionaires, and in 1974, he established a flagship company, ALC Commercial and Industrial Corporation.[1]

His business interests include real estate, hotel, broadcasting, print media, banking and insurance. He founded Citystate Savings Bank, Fortune Life Insurance Co. Inc., Eternal Plans, Citystate Properties and Management Corp., and Isuzu GenCars, Inc.[5][6]

"Ka Tony" Cabangon-Chua was also a tri-media magnate, having owned some business interests related to media, including newspaper BusinessMirror, tabloid Pilipino Mirror, magazines Philippine Graphic Weekly, View and Cook, and the radio network Aliw Broadcasting Corporation that operates AM radio station DWIZ and FM radio station Home Radio 97.9.

He was also the chairman of Nine Media Corporation, the media company behind CNN Philippines (now RPTV, in partnership with TV5 Network) and Radio Philippines Network, as he acquired the 34% stake of RPN from Solar Entertainment Corporation in 2014 due to the Tieng's loss of revenue after investing on RPN.[7] He was also the chairman and president of the Catholic Mass Media Awards Foundation, appointed by former Manila archbishop Cardinal Jaime Sin from 2000 until his death.[8]

In October 2014, Cabangon–Chua led the successful negotiations between the TV network and CNN International, that paved way for the launch of CNN Philippines, a free-to-air TV news channel aired on RPN-9.[9]

In 2015, the Kapisanan ng mga Brodkaster ng Pilipinas (KBP) awarded Cabangon-Chua with the Lifetime Achievement Award for his remarkable contributions in the broadcasting business as the founder and chairman emeritus of ABC.[10]

On the same year, the Catholic Mass Media Awards confers the Special Award for Devoted Service to the Church through the Mass Media award to Cabangon-Chua.[11]

Government career

During the presidency of Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, Cabangon–Chua served as the Philippine ambassador to Laos (January 2003–August 2004).[1][12]

birth name	Antonio Lim Cabangon-Chua
birth date	August 30, 1934
birth place	Philippines
death date	March 11, 2016
death place	Ozamiz, Misamis Occidental
resting place	San Felipe Neri Cemetery Mandaluyong, Metro Manila
other names	ALC, Amba
alma mater	University of the East (Bachelor of Science in Business Administration, 1956) Adamson University (honoris causa)
occupation	philanthropist, businessman, diplomat
title	ALC Group of Companies founder and chairman emeritus
spouse	Bienvenida Angeles Chua
children	16
parents	Tomas Chua (father) Dominga Lim Cabangon (mother)
website	antoniocabangonchua.com

Antonio Cabangon-Chua

Early life

Education

Career

Government career

Personal life and death

Legacy

References