TO A VISIONARY AND HIS LEGACY
The CATS Group of Companies toasts to a feast of two celebrations—its 30th year in the industry and the 60th birthday of its founder, #CATSFather FELIX ANG
From a small car accessories, tires, and servicing shop in Greenhills to a leading force in the local automotive industry, the CATS Group has definitely gone a long way. Commemorating 30 years of industry leadership, innovation, and success, over 800 invited guests gathered at the Grand Hyatt Manila last October 28 to celebrate the team’s 30th year as well as founder Felix Ang’s 60th birthday. The theme of the festivities was inspired by Francis Ford Coppola’s cinematic masterpiece The Godfather. The film, aside from being an all-time favorite of Felix, is fitting for its message that focuses on the importance of friends and family. Don Vito Corleone, the story’s protagonist, has throughout the movie proclaimed how cultivating great relationships play a vital role in running a successful business. He says, “Friendship is everything. It’s almost the equal of family. And family is the most important thing in life.”
The first half of the program, hosted by Issa Litton and David Celdran, honored the CATS Group’s pearl anniversary. Presenting its rich history from its humble beginnings in 1989 up to the massive business it is now, guests were given a rundown of the team’s biggest milestones leading to its becoming the exclusive distributor of prestigious and luxury car brands in the country, such as Mercedes-Benz, Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, Ram, Harley-Davidson, Mazda, Jaguar, and Land Rover.
Built on the tenets of passion and perseverance,
Auto Nation Group Chairman Mr. Greg T. Yu shared how the company emerged victorious in becoming the empire it is today during his opening remarks, “In the three decades that have passed, we have witnessed it all: Success and failures, highs and lows, celebrations and crisis… everything. Yet one thing we never did was to give up. We persevered and found solutions to problems and overcame challenges.”
Frankie Ang, COO of Auto Nation Group, and son of Mr. Felix Ang, also shared the growing pains that the business went through—which he himself, now also 30, witnessed up close. “Just as I went through my own stages of infancy, childhood, puberty, and adulthood,
CATS also had its own share of learning, experimenting, mastering, and pioneering. And as I reach the age when my father founded CATS and as I look back at my father’s achievements the past 30 years, I only hope that my next 30 years would be as amazing as his.”
In the second part of the twofold celebration, guests were enchanted with the culinary stylings of a magnificent buffet prepared by the Grand Hyatt Kitchen, further sensationalized with a number of musical performances, starting with a dance-filled “Grand Hyatt Kitchen Musical” and medley of hits by Emmanuelle Adda, a distinguished multi-awarded international performing artist
Atty. Mike Toledo, who hosted this segment of the party with Issa Litton, addressed the birthday celebrant, “You, my friend, have made such a huge impact not only within your company, but more importantly, to the lives of the people around you: your partners, customers, friends, and of course your family.” A video was then played, featuring several people who thanked Felix for touching and transforming their lives.
Other notable performances that evening included George Yang singing the Italian version of the Godfather theme and Gia Ang, Mr. Ang’s daughter, singing “Somewhere Over the Rainbow,” to the surprise production number by Mr. Ang’s wife, Ms. Grace Ang. Nearing the end of the program, the family gathered to sing “Happy Birthday” to their beloved patriarch as he blew the candles on his cake, and more greetings and anecdotes followed from Mr. Ang’s friends and business partners, such as Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry’s George Barcelon, Ben Yam,
Art Tan, and US Ambassador to the Philippines Sung Kim. Rounding off the evening on a high note was a performance by no other than Gary Valenciano. Guests who still wanted to mingle and chat afterward had a live performance by Tony Boy Cojuangco and the Glass Onion band and lounge singer Kate Castillo providing them a musical backdrop.
“I seized every opportunity as it came, even up to the point of sacrificing a formal education. Experience taught me the hard way, but I thought to myself, if I don’t make it, there is no turning back; I just had to keep moving,” Mr. Ang reflected in his birthday speech. “CATS is the greatest legacy of my life, having gone this far. It is such an amazing journey and I consider myself very blessed.”