PH loses 2 business luminaries
The Philippine business industry is mourning the loss of two of its leading lights, Mercury Drug’s founder Dr. Mariano Que and Ramon Aboitiz Foundation, Inc. president Roberto Eduardo “Bobby” Aboitiz.
Both business luminaries passed away during the Holy Week.
Aboitiz, who also served as the Senior Vice President of Aboitiz & Company Inc, died on April
13 at the age of 67.
“The family wishes not to issue any more statements regarding his death,” RAFI Comporate Communications head Rianne Tecson said.
Aboitiz was the president and board chairman of the family-owned foundation, aimed at elevating the “lives of people in the Visayas and Mindanao” since 1986.
He also served as a director of Aboitiz Equity Ventures, Inc. and Tsuneishi Heavy Industries, Inc (Cebu).
Aboitiz earned a degree in Behavioral Science at the Ateneo de Manila University and was a holder of honorary doctorates in humanities and business management from the University of San Jose Recoletos.
A day after the magnate’s death, the local business field was shaken by yet another loss, the passing of 96-year-old Mercury Drug founder Dr. Mariano Que.
As of writing, no other details about Que’s death have been disclosed by the family.
The pharmacy company announced Que’s death through its official social media pages on Friday, April 14.
The drug store chain also requested those who wanted to send flowers to the late founder, to give donations to the company’s non-profit organization, Mercury Drug Foundation, Inc., instead.
Forbes Magazine had reported that Que sold medicine — particularly sulfathiozone — “from a pushcart” before he opened Mercury Drug’s first outlet in 1945 on Bambang Street in Manila.
Que’s daughter, Vivian Azcona, currently runs Mercury Drug, and serves as the president of the largest pharmaceutical retail company in the country.
In 2015, Dr. Que received a honorary doctorate from the University of Sto. Tomas.
The Mercury Drug founder received a doctorate degree in humanities, honoris causa, “for his involvement in philanthropy and his pioneering effort in the pharmaceutical industry,” UST’s official student publication, The Varsitarian, reported.