Everybody called him Big John, but we his family, siblings and wife Elizabeth called him Iya, which means Lovable Baby. My father John Gokongwei, Sr. died when he was only 34, my mother was a very pretty, 30-year-old widow. But commerce in the Philippines is rarely without domestic complications. While part of Gokongweis office at the Robinsons Equitable Tower in the Ortigas district of Pasig showcases photographs of him with the likes of former president Benigno Aquino III and Imelda Marcos, Gokongwei says hes stayed away from political entanglements. They were the victors at the time.. [13], "Our world seemed to turn upside-down," Gokongwei said, as he faced the greatest challenge of his career. Anyway, like my mom, I decided that sticking to something despite so many defeats is no longer being smart. With your meaningful insights, help shape the stories that can shape the country. That was part of the culture, so what can you complain about, he says. Portrait of John Gokongwei Jr. Photo: Handout from JG Summit Holdings Inc. Website. Since then, Big John was unstoppable as he built one of the Philippines biggest business empires, the JG Summit. Already, controlling shares in Summit are being transferred to the second generation. But one in particular made me pause and reflect. [5] From the years 1943 to 1945, or between the ages of 17 and 19, he traded using a wooden boat, taking his goods to Dalahican, Lucena by sea and then to Manila by truck. Robina Gokongwei-Pe, the eldest daughter, runs Robinsons Retail Holdings, the second-largest retailer in the Philippines. Currently, I work with the best and funniest team Ive ever met, and thanks to them, we made Angkong let out the biggest smile in the world before he finally passed on. The Palace expresses its deep condolences to the family, the surviving wife Elizabeth, children Lance, Robina, Lisa, Faith, Hope and Marcia, friends and colleagues of Mr. John Gokongwei, Jr.. JG Summit grew to $135 million by 1993, when it listed on the Philippine Stock Exchange, and then $1.8 billion by its 50th anniversary in 2007. The company merged with Universal Robina Corporation. I initially thought that Id have a hard time in the family business due to the alleged long hours and a salary lower than I got in Shell but oh how I was truly mistaken. Present during the visit were Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea and Senators Christopher Lawrence "Bong" Go and Aquilino "Koko" Pimentel III. Much later, in 1977, he obtained an MBA degree from the De La Salle University in Manila. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. (Originally entitled "Mr. John Gokongwei on Charter Change") by Ducky Paredes (article from August of 2006) Mr. John, as his corporate family fondly refers to John Gokongwei, has always been known for being a practical businessman. Taipan John Gokongwei continues to shower his family with his generosity three years after passing away at the age of 93. He was 93. He also made generous donations to institutes such as the University of San Carlos, the De La Salle University, the Sacred Heart School, the Xavier School, and the Immaculate Conception Academy. Elizabeth's father owned a hardware store back then. His other. Then came the Japanese occupation in 1942. He is survived by his wife, six children and at least 12 grandchildren. He pointed at me and called me, and in his grungy voice, asked me directly without blinking: How are our coffee sales? I responded: Were doing much better this month Angkong! He is the Vice-Chairman and Deputy Chief Executive Officer of RLC and LMI. Elizabeth had actively supported her husband in all his endeavors. The Filipino billionaire is known as the founder of JG Summit Holdings, one of the Philippines' largest conglomerates. On his mothers side, his grandfather was the immigrant tycoon and Iloilo Chinese community leader Pedro Marquez Lim. His presence is very much felt., Where John usually is, instead, is at home with the woman he married 58 years ago, as he was plying the import trade in his native Cebu, pre-JG Summit. Thanks for your feedback to [emailprotected]. John Robinson Lim Gokongwei Jr. (traditional Chinese: ; simplified Chinese: ; pinyin: W Yhu; Peh-e-j: G Ek-hui; 11 August 1926 - 9 November 2019) was a Filipino businessman, investor, and philanthropist. ADVERTISEMENT - CONTINUE READING BELOW Exactly a week later, November 16, 2019, Elizabeth also died. Elizabeth Yus father owned a hardware store there. He was asking me about the sales of Great Taste Coffee and I said, Were up based on recent data. He had a very big smile. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. He recalls bowing to the imperial soldiers. A A. This year, two of the Philippines' greatest taipans passed away, both peacefully. Still, its hard to shed old habits. We have to look for opportunities if were going to survive the next 50 years. We decided to put the same pillow with him now because we know it will provide comfort for him if he knew that that one of his bestselling snacks would go with him to the beyond. At least I had some suits and education," says Gokongwei. The couple had six children: their son, Lance, and their five daughters, Lisa, Robina, Faith, Hope, and Marcia. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. We were left with practically nothing, except a good name, says Gokongwei. Gokongwei was one of two remarkable rags-to-riches business tycoons, the other one being Henry Sy Sr., whom Ive known for over three decades and considered a friend since I was a college student. The family fortune was lost after the death of his father in 1939 when Gokongwei was 13 years old and World War II (19391945) was just starting. We need to slug it out." I dont know another Philippine company that has lasted three generations, except for Ayala, he says. He taught us everything that we needed to know, like not bragging about what you have, ABSOLUTELY NO ENTITLEMENT, showing me how to ride a bike, teaching me how to drink coffee and it has to be Great Taste and for the single ones like me, what I needed to know about playing around. The program started in the mid 1990's and has graduated roughly 1,400 students, a majority of whom are now in the marketing, communications, media . When I saw my wife for the first time, she was 17 and I was 23 or 24, says Gokongwei. Yesterday morning, Friday, at Heritage Park in Taguig City, Justin Pe paid his last respects to his departed grandfather, the industrialist John Gokongwei Jr. with a heartfelt eulogy both touching and funny. Home Stories John Gokongweis Life & Success Story: From Selling Peanuts To Building A Business Empire. It was a sad moment and there was a flood of messages coming in, condoling with us. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads. Mr. John Gokongwei, Jr. November 14, 2019. He is also second cousins with the Gaisano family, with Doa Modesta Singson-Gaisano being his grandaunt (his grandfather's sister) which he used to call in Hokkien Chinese: ; Peh-e-j: Lu -ko; lit. John Gokongwei was married to Elizabeth Yu from 1958 until his death in 2019. John Gokongwei's Nine Rules of Success. By 1957, John realized that trading would not earn him much profits. John Robinson Lim Gokongwei Jr. (traditional Chinese: ; simplified Chinese: ; pinyin: W Yhu; Peh-e-j: G Ek-hui; 11 August 1926 - 9 November 2019) was a Filipino businessman, investor, and philanthropist. By continuing to browse the site, you are agreeing to our use of cookies. [7] The following year, he partnered with Japan's Calbee and France's Danone for potato chips and beverages respectively. Justin recalled: Angkong told me that he was only 13 years old when he had to start working for the sake of the family., Justin also shared that in April or May this year, Gokongwei told him: I want to see you in the family business before I die. He also gave donations to University of San Carlos, Xavier School, De La Salle University, Sacred Heart School Ateneo de Cebu and Immaculate Conception Academy (ICA).[9]. At the age of 14, he started selling peanuts in the streets to send money to his family in China. Among Gokongweis proudest achievements is JG Summits entry into the airline business, whose success he credits to his son. During those very tough days in the hospital when we never knew whether he would give up or still fight, I happened to catch him in his best moment. The Philippines late Snack Food King, petrochemicals and budget airline pioneer John L. Gokongwei, Jr. was one of Southeast Asias most respected self-made business leaders and philanthropists when he died at age 93 on Nov. 9. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. Founded in 1957 by patriarch John Gokongwei Jr., the 65 year-old Gokongwei . The Gokongwei Family in Cebu, 1938. Johns great-grandfather, who was a trader from China, was one of the Philippines's most influential Chinese Filipinos. I told him he didnt need to and that his expression of sympathy was already much appreciated by the family. She used to be in the corporate world for a decade but followed her heart and became a writer. At some point after the meal he slips away, and his only son, Lance, is summoned for quiet talk about the family business, JG Summit, which the host founded in 1957 and which today is the second-largest family-run business in the Philippines, with a market capitalization of $13.2 billion. Success Story of John Gokongwei Success Story of John Gokongwei "We need blood and sweat and hard work to make the Philippine economy compete globally, for our family businesses to be world class in this era of globalization. The Lasallian MASTER recognition was awarded to Mr. John Gokongwei Jr. at the launching of the DLSU College of Business and School of Economics last June 11, 2010 at Dusit Hotel in Makati City. So at age 15, having dropped out of school to work, he started selling goods like soaps and tires at the local market. He also acquired New Zealand-based cookie maker Griffin's Foods for 700 million New Zealand dollars ($609 million at the time), giving Universal Robina a presence in the South Pacific. [15], In 2018, Gokongwei was named CEO of JG Summit. He came from Fujian province in China and owned a huge trading company, Gotiaoco Hermanos. It's hard to imagine many consumer products and services today without thinking of John Gokongwei Jr. The Gokongwei family at one of their family gatherings in the 1980s. The family would shuttle back and forth between China and the Philippines, but the fortune was lost when Gotiaoco's grandson, John Gokongwei Sr. passed away prematurely. John died on November 9, 2019, at the Manila Doctors Hospital, Manila, Philippines. Love your country. He had to close down. (Tan went on to start his own diverse conglomerate, LT Groupwith a market cap of $4 billion and no interests in cornstarch.). John Robinson Lim Gokongwei Jr. was born on August 11, 1926, in Xiamen, Gulangyu Subdistrict, Republic of China, to John Gokongwei, Sr. (Go Kong Wei) and Juanita Mrquez Lim. With a net worth of US $5.3 billion, making him the third richest man in the Philippines in 2019, John Gokongwei Jr. has really come a long way from the young boy who sold soap, thread and other basic needs in post-war Cebu. 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