By The Bohol Chronicle
A towering business icon of exemplary entrepreneurial skills Antonio Ong Guat, 94, silently left yesterday the city he had dramatically transposed.
The Filipino-Chinese, known endearingly as "Mr. Bohol Quality" bade farewell after leaving a trailblazing record of business success that will have few equals.
"Ong Guat" took a chance in the fledgling city of Tagbilaran, then a small town in relative terms and became retail king in no time. No doubt he could have made it big as well if he stayed in his motherland China.
His corner-lot Bohol Quality department store - then was a landmark of the town and had served three generations of satisfied Boholano retail shoppers. It was his keen sense of smell for "what sells" to the Boholano crowd and his indomitable patience to hurdle business challenges that rewarded "Mr. Bohol Quality" with the success his enterprise deserves.
Antonio "Ong Guat", soft-spoken and low profile, will rest in peace - knowing he had left his hard-earned business in the able hands of heir apparent Fred, a graduate of the Ateneo MBA graduate school.
His business has since grown by leaps and bounds into what is now known in the corporate world as Bohol Quality Corp. that branched out to other businesses
like hotel/resort, agri business, and shopping mall.
The late business icon is survived by wife, Luisa Lim and children Fred and Babs Gonzaga, Lourdes Go, Ben and Atie Huan, Ressie and Tony Tan, grandchildren and great grandchildren.
His remains lie in state at the Ong's residence along Gallares Street, this city.
The family issued a public advisory that they would most appreciate donations (rather than flowers) which they will give to their chosen charities.
As of press time, date of interment was still to be decided by family members.
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