■ CEBUANO BUSINESSMAN JOSEPH GAISANO PASSED AWAY LAST WEDNESDAY
Businessman remembered as one of the captains in Cebu’s retail industry and for his involvement in community
One of Cebu’s retail captains died last Wednesday night. Employees of White Gold Club mourned the death of Joseph Gaisano, saying they lost a “father figure” and a boss whose leadership style brought out the best in them. “If not for Mr. Gaisano, I wouldn’t be where I am now. I learned so much from him,” said Sonia Go, comptroller at White Gold Club. Aside from holding top positions in the community, like being president of the Cebu Filipino Chinese Fire Brigade and the Cebu Filipino Chinese United Community and one of the commissioners of the Cebu City Tourism Commission, Gaisano was also vice chairman of SunStar Publishing Inc.
Cebuano businessman Joseph S. Gaisano passed away last Wednesday night. He was 76.
His colleagues in the Sinulog Foundation Inc. (SFI) recalled how he contributed a lot to the organization.
Gaisano, one of Cebu’s retail captains, left fond memories and a legacy to business and the community.
Employees of White Gold Club mourned Gaisano’s death, saying they have lost a “father figure” and a boss whose leadership style brought out the best in them.
“He was really a nice boss. He will really be missed,” said Sonia Go, comptroller at White Gold Club.
“If not for Mr. Gaisano, I wouldn’t be where I am now. I learned so much from him,” said Go, who’s been working with the company for more than 30 years.
Last May 21, Gaisano had a reunion with his retired employees who was in the company for 20 to 30 years.
“We were all having fun. We are like family,” said Go.
Asked about his leadership style, Go said Gaisano was a strict boss.
“He was strict especially if he knows it will make you a better person. You will learn a lot from him. One good thing about him, too, is that he checked on your performance or how you were doing,” she said.
Aside from growing the company’s business, Gaisano was also active in community service.
“When Mr. Gaisano couldn’t make it to some meetings because of his hectic schedule I sometimes represented him. There I learned that he was not just an entrepreneur who was only after profit but also a man whose heart was so big for service,” said Go.
In the maiden issue of The Cebu Yearbook in 2011, Gaisano was quoted: “To be a responsible businessman, you need to have a great responsibility for the improvement of the community.”
He was chairman of the Doña Modesta Gaisano Foundation, which grants scholarships as part of the matriarch’s commitment to help in the education of deserving students for the last 60 years.
The foundation is also the biggest financial supporter of the Sta. Maria Gorreti Free School run by the Ylac Foundation in Cebu City.
Gaisano held top positions as one the commissioners of Cebu City Tourism Commission, president of Cebu Filipino Chinese Fire Brigade, Cebu Filipino Chinese United Community, Merchants Cultural Foundation of Cebu, and a member of the board of trustees of the Sinulog Foundation Inc., and director of the Philippine Banking Corp.
He was also the vice chairman of SunStar Publishing Inc.
“We are immensely saddened to hear about the passing of a great business and community leader in Cebu, Mr. Joseph Gaisano. As one of the captains of the retail industry, he spearheaded a lot of the cultural and business exchanges in Cebu,” said Melanie Ng, president of Cebu Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCCI).
White Gold Club is a member of CCCI and Philippine Retail Association-Cebu Chapter.
Former Cebu City mayor Michael Rama, who used to sit as chairman of SFI during his term as mayor of the city, said Gaisano often gave him good advice.
“He is a loss to the business industry. I feel sad upon hearing the news about his passing. Joseph has been a dreamer and has transformed his dreams to reality,” Rama told SunStar Cebu.
For SFI executive director Ricky Ballesteros, Gaisano contributed a lot to the foundation. Ballesteros said the businessman was always active in the foundation.
Gaisano, COO and chairman of the board of White Gold Inc. and DSG Sons Group Inc., was awarded in 2004 by the Cebu Chamber of Commerce and Industry for his outstanding achievements and as a role model for Cebuanos to become world-class and globally competitive.
To be a responsible businessman, you need to have a great responsibility for the improvement of the community. JOSEPH S. GAISANO Businessman