FCGCCI celebrates 115th founding anniversary and 72nd induction ceremonies today.
FOR years, the FilipinoChinese General Chamber of Commerce, Inc. (FCGCCI) incoming president Ramon Chuaying has established himself as a multi-faceted businessman in various sectors. Known to many as a reliable, personable and honorable man, Chuaying’s decades of hard work and amiability has led him to become one of the pillars of the music industry in the Philippines.
Born in Cebu and fresh out of college in 1967, the businessman started his journey as part of Electro Sound Center (Dyna Records’ marketing arm) for area promotions and sales in Visayas and Mindanao. His strive for excellence brought him to Manila in 1977 as one of the founders of WEA Records Philippines (the of licensee Warner Electra Atlantic Records).
WEA would then become precedent to what is known to many today as Universal Records Philippines, which was established in 1992 as an independent record label. With its renaming, Universal Records became home to the biggest OPM artists, including Apo Hiking Society, Celeste Legazpi, Marco Sison, Jose Mari Chan, Gary Valenciano, and many others.
Today, the label continues to strive for excellence in the industry, with its current roster being led by well-beloved acts such as Parokya ni Edgar, Sponge Cola, Ice Seguerra, Noel Cabangon, Christian Bautista, Julie Anne San Jose, Shanti Dope, among many up and coming artists in the scene.
With these under his belt, he has stepped into even more leadership positions in and out of the music industry. On top of leading Universal Records, he also handles its sister company, PolyEast Records, which takes pride in fostering artists including Martin Nievera, Bamboo, Glaiza De Castro, Teejay Monterde, and many more.
Along with leading these record labels, he stands as the chairman of both the Filipino Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers, Inc. (FILSCAP) and Sound Recording Rights Society (Soundsright PH).
His long-term career in the industry also includes being the proprietor of Magnavision Inc. & EmpireVision Inc. (licensees of major Hollywood studios such as Walt Disney Studios, Warner Bros., Universal Studios, Paramount, Sony Pictures, and 20th Century Fox), and holding previous leadership positions as president and chairman of the Philippine Association of the Record Industry (PARI). Along with these, he shares many leadership roles in civic organizations including being director of Philippine Chinese Charitable Association, Inc. (PCCAI), operator of the Chinese General Hospital and Medical Center (CGHMC), treasurer of Red Cross (Quezon City Chapter), and previously holding the president position at the Association of Volunteer Fire Chiefs & Fire Fighters of the Philippines Inc. As he faces a new leadership position at the FCGCC, Chuaying hopes to utilize his years of expertise in the business and establishing relationships to step into a new era of serving the Filipino-Chinese community and beyond. This includes creating better relations and ties with pertinent government, expanding the chamber’s educational and humanitarian efforts, and to cultivating small and medium sized entrepreneurial endeavors, among many plans in the works. In response to the everchanging times, this man of music hopes to keep the Filipino Chinese General Chamber of Commerce Inc. will truly be in tune and set for a brighter future.