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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). The family once lived a middle class life at Leveriza Street, Malate, Manila, with their house later destroyed during the Second World War. His father was said executed by the Japanese in Fort Santiago in 1944.

His family experienced living in extreme poverty thereafter; they later lived at a rented room. At age eleven, he helped his mother, working then as a washerwoman, through doing odd jobs, among them shining shoes of the American soldiers at the time of the liberation of the Philippines, and selling magazines and pandesal. He managed as well to support his schooling until becoming a Certified Public Accountant (CPA).

Had a hobby of watching movies, he used to go to Bellevue Theater, which he later bought.

Education

Cabangon–Chua spent primary education in Namayan, Mandaluyong (school later renamed Isaac Lopez Elementary School), and in Santa Ana, Manila; and secondary (until 1953) and tertiary (until 1956) at the University of the East. He gave up his dream of becoming a doctor as he pursued and finished a business administration degree a year shorter than the usual duration. He passed the CPA examination in 1960.

He also enrolled an engineering course at the Far East Asian Technological Institute (FEATI) at the time of his college years, as well as a law course at the Adamson University for two years until focusing on his pawnshop business; however, he did not finished both. He took vocational courses, among them automotive mechanic in FEATI and diesel mechanic at the Guzman Institute of Technology. He enrolled in a Dale Carnegie course in 1960.

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.

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.

"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 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. 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.

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 currently aired on RPN-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.

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.

Government career

Cabangon–Chua served as the Philippine ambassador to Laos (January 2003–August 2004).

Death

Cabangon–Chua died on March 11, 2016, at age 81.

Legacy

Cabangon–Chua established Dominga L. Cabangon Memorial Foundation in 1978, in honor of his mother, giving educational assistance; as well as Quijano de Manila Foundation more than three decades later, in honor of his friend and biographer, National Artist for Literature Nick Joaquin, helping aspirant writers.

His biography written by Joaquin, entitled Antonio L. Cabangon Chua: A Saga of Success, was published by Brown Madonna Press in 1986.

References

1. ^ Carunungan, Celso (April 8, 1987). "Book Review: When poverty is a blessing". Manila Standard. p. 13. Retrieved August 4, 2024 – via Google Books.
2. ^ Citations:
   • Concepcion Ladrido, Rosa (2012). "Cabangon Chua, Antonio". In Suryadinata, Leo (ed.). Southeast Asian Personalities of Chinese Descent: A Biographical Directory — Volume I. Pasir Panjang, Singapore: Institute of Southeast Asian Studies. pp. 49–51. ISBN 978-981-4345-22-4. Retrieved August 4, 2024 – via Google Books.
   • Suryadinata, Leo, ed. (2012). Southeast Asian Personalities of Chinese Descent: A Biographical Directory — Volume II: Glossary and Index. Pasir Panjang, Singapore: Institute of Southeast Asian Studies. ISBN 978-981-4414-13-5. Retrieved August 4, 2024 – via Google Books.
3. ^ del Castillo, Butch (April 26, 1995). "Between You and Me — A classic success story". Manila Standard. p. 10. Retrieved August 4, 2024 – via Google Books.
4. Carr, Jennifer, ed. (1991). "Philippines". Major Companies of the Far East and Australasia 1991/92 — Volume 1: South East Asia. London: Graham & Trotman Ltd. p. 152. ISBN 1-85333-604-1. Retrieved August 4, 2024 – via Google Books.
5. "Nine Media Corporation chairman Cabangon-Chua passes away". CNN Philippines. March 11, 2016. Archived from the original on March 11, 2016. Retrieved March 11, 2016.
6. "Cabangon-Chua acquiring RPN-9". Rappler. August 21, 2014. Retrieved March 11, 2016.
7. "The CMMA Board of Trustees". CMMA Foundation. Archived from the original on March 13, 2016. Retrieved March 12, 2016.
8. "CNN Philippines to start airing 1st quarter 2015". Rappler. October 14, 2014. Retrieved March 11, 2016.
9. "KBP Lifetime Achievement Award for Aliw Broadcasting founder". The Philippine Star. May 25, 2015. Retrieved March 11, 2016.
10. "CMMA confers special award on Ambassador Cabangon Chua". BusinessMirror. November 5, 2015. Retrieved March 12, 2016.
11. Diaz, Erno (2016). "Chapter 14: Cardinal Sin and His San Lorenzo Legacy". The Sin I Knew (Not what you think!). United States: Xlibris. ISBN 978-1-5144-3169-6. Retrieved August 4, 2024 – via Google Books.
12. "Nine Media Corporation chairman Cabangon-Chua passes away". CNN Philippines. March 11, 2016. Archived from the original on December 30, 2023. Retrieved December 30, 2023.
13. "Palace condoles with ex-ambassador Cabangon-Chua's family". Philstar.com. March 12, 2016. Retrieved December 30, 2023.

• 1934 births
• 2016 deaths
• 20th-century Filipino businesspeople
• Filipino diplomats
• Filipino media executives
• People from Manila
• People from Mandaluyong
• Ambassadors of the Philippines to Laos
• University of the East alumni
• Filipino company founders
• Filipino people of Chinese descent
• 21st-century Filipino businesspeople