Senators on Wednesday paid tribute to former Ambassador and business tycoon Eduardo “Danding” Cojuangco Jr. who died at the age of 85.

Senate President Vicente Sotto III, acting chairman of the Nationalist People’s Coalition (NPC) that Cojuangco founded, said his whole family is mourning the loss of a “mentor and beloved friend.”

“He lived an extraordinary life, a successful man who wore many hats as he made waves in the business sector and splashes in public service. The vast ocean of entrepreneurship and political leadership will never drift as suavely and smoothly without his engaging presence,” Sotto said in a statement.

“The legacy and vision of NPC’s big boss will continue with all its members, friends and especially, among his family,” he added.

Senator Sherwin Gatchalian said the passing of Cojuangco, who was fondly called “Boss Danding” by close friends and associates, has left the country with a “sad void.”

“He was considered to be one of the country’s most successful industrialists. He was chairman and CEO of San Miguel Corporation (SMC), the largest food and beverage corporation in the Philippines and Southeast Asia. Boss Danding was also a sports patron who has made great contributions especially in basketball since the ‘80s,” he said.

Having been with the NPC member since the start of his political career, Gatchalian said he witnessed how Cojuangco has shaped, over decades, the ideals and objectives of the party that centered on love for the country.

“He treated us like family and I will remain grateful for his support. My heart and my thoughts are with his family and loved ones at this difficult time,” he said.

Senator Lito Lapid, another NPC member, hailed Cojuangco as a leader in the world of politics, business, and public service who would always serve as an inspiration to the party.

He said he is forever grateful to the support given by Cojuangco and the NPC in all his political forays.

“Si Boss Danding ay hindi lamang lider ng isa sa pinakamatatag at malaking partido sa buong bansa. Siya rin ay isang tunay na kaibigang malalapitan sa lahat ng pagkakataon. Kaya ganun na lamang ang taas ng aking respeto at lalim ng aking pagpapahalaga sa aming pagkakaibigan,” Lapid said.

(Boss Danding is not just the leader of one of the strongest and biggest political party in the country. He is also a true friend who could be counted on at all times. That’s why I give the highest respect and deepest appreciation to our friendship.)

Senate Majority Leader Juan Miguel Zubiri said Cojuangco was a “force of nature” and his passing is a “huge, huge loss” to the world of business, politics, and even sports.

“He has done so much. In the political arena, of course, but especially in business. He took San Miguel to such great heights, and opened up employment opportunities to tens of thousands of Filipinos across the nation,” he said.

“His success with San Miguel has pervaded even our cultural landscape, extending into to the world of sports – I can hardly imagine what the PBA would be like without his support.”

Hailed as the Godfather of Philippine Basketball, Cojuangco owned the San Miguel Beermen, Barangay Ginebra San Miguel, and Magnolia Hotshots teams in the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA).

Senate President Pro Tempore Ralph Recto credited Cojuangco for SMC’s large contribution to the country’s fight against the coronavirus disease (Covid-19) pandemic.

“SMC’s decision to give more than PHP 1 billion in the national pandemic fight, in ways longer than its product catalog, was the corporate implementation of Danding’s philosophy to help the needy,” he said.

He said it was this trademark of giving which drove SMC to donate gas to front-liners; to let aid trucks travel on its tollways for free; to stock community kitchens with chicken, meat products and flour; to equip hospitals with testing machines and ventilators; to flood clinics with disinfectant and alcohol; to dispatch its planes all over Asia in search of supplies, and to keep its payroll intact despite the plunge in sales.

“When profits give way to service during a national crisis, we know who was responsible for SMC passing its corporate citizenship test,” Recto said.

Senator Sonny Angara also honored Cojuangco’s unselfishness when it comes to helping the needy.

“His forays into business and politics are of public record. But what will never be publicly known were his charitable acts, unsolicited, done sans fanfare, and many anonymously,” he said.

“He was a practitioner of retail altruism and direct assistance to the down and out. The financials of his companies are meticulously recorded, but he kept no accounting of the help he extended to the needy, especially from the provinces close to his heart,” Angara said.

Senator Grace Poe said Cojuangco had always looked for ways to “empower communities,” and had opened up opportunities for “pervasive success” as he believed deeply in the capabilities of Filipinos.

“We are saddened by his passing, but we celebrate a legacy, too, of the man behind iconic Filipino brands who in so many ways gave his share to make our country better,” Poe said.

Senator Joel Villanueva hailed Cojuangco as a “visionary, industrialist, and a patron of sports.”

“As founder and chair of the NPC, Ambassador Cojuangco pursued his vision for a better Philippines through public service, a challenge that remains in the hearts and minds of its members. While his demise leaves a void, his legacy will live on through the NPC and the dozens of organizations he formed in his lifetime,” Villanueva said. (PNA)