Dr. Lucio C. Tan

The late Jaime Cardinal Sin once wrote that the life story of Lucio C. Tan is like the proverbial mustard seed: “it began small but emerged bigger than most of the shrubs and trees.”

Indeed, Lucio Tan started small and humble. Yet, according to the good Cardinal, his only armaments were faith on God and determination in his work. “They proved to be the best ammunition a person can have.”

MODEST BEGINNINGS

Thus, from modest beginnings in Fujian, China, from two failed ventures and a small chemical trading firm called Himmel Industries, Lucio Tan emerged as one of the most successful industrialists in modern Philippine history. He serves as an inspiration, a guiding beacon to many of his fellow Filipinos who believe and hope that they too, can break free from the bondage of poverty.

Despite his fabled wealth, life ahs not been always easy for Mr. Tan and his family. The eldest child of the late Tan Chua King Ha and Tan Yan Kee, he was born on July 17, 1934 in one of southern China’s poorest provinces.. While he was barely four years old, his family joined the Chinese Diaspora to escape the invading Japanese Imperial Army.

It his tender age, young Lucio was exposed to the vicissitudes of life during the war. No stranger to hunger and fear, the Second World War must have made quite an impression on hi young mind. The destruction and despair it brought may be enough to crush one’s spirit and resolve, but not Mr. Tan’s. He believes that “There will be no construction, and thus no gain, without destruction.”

It was, therefore, during this era of rebuilding from the ashes that his eyes were opened to the vast opportunities that await those with vision and determination.

Sometime in 1948, the teenage Lucio moved in with his uncle in Barrio Sabang, Naga City. He spent two memorable years in that part of Bicol before moving on to join his father who was stationed in different provinces owing to his work. In 1955, he graduated in Chiang Kai Shek High School. Thereafter, he worked with the Bataan Cigar and Cigarette Company to finance his Chemical Engineering studies at the Far Eastern University. Later, he became the chemist of the cigarette firm.


CORPORATE SUCCESS

Born and raised in the Confucian work ethic, young Lucio was taught early in life to aim high and reached his goals through hard work. He was particularly engrossed with the value of “ren,” the Chinese word for perseverance, and the virtue of humility, frugality and benevolence.

From his modest savings, he slowly raised the seed of his envisioned enterprise. He first established a corn starch factory. Both attempts in entrepreneurship failed. But these did not deter Mr. Tan from pursuing his dream.
Within the same year that this corn starch factory closed shop, he established Himmel Industries, Inc. a chemical manufacturing and trading firm. Using second hand machines and reconditioned American trucks, Himmel gave Mr. Tan his first taste of success.

From Himmel, he set-up Fortune Tabacco in 1966. This humble venture, which was housed in a small hut in Marikina, proved to be the enterprise that would catapult Mr. Tan to success. From this flagship company emerged numerous successful ventures in agribusiness; airlines and related services; banking, finance and securities; brewery; chemicals; distillery and alcohol; education; food; hotel; real estate; soap manufacturing; steel fabrication and construction; and tourism and travel services.


PHILANTHROPY

Ever mindful of his humble origins, Mr. Tan shares the fruits of his enterprise with those in need. He established the Tan Yan Kee Foundation in 1986 in honor of his father. Since it was established, the Foundation has donated hundreds of millions of pesos in constructing school buildings, hospitals, churches as well as houses for the homeless. It has likewise funded health and social welfare projects, calamity assistance, livelihood programs, environment protection, research, sports development and anti-drug campaigns. The Tan Yan Kee Foundation is now a full-fledged NGO (non-government organization).

A firm believer in the value of education, Mr. Tan is the founder of the Foundation for Upgrading the Standard of Education (FUSE). A non-profit organization , FUSE serves as a catalyst and as a government’s partner in upgrading the quality of education in the Philippines by improving the teaching skills of English, Science and Mathematics Teachers.

He also sends physicians for further studies and specialization abroad through the Asia Brewery Medical Scholarship Program. His only condition is for the scholars to return to the Philippines so they may serve their less fortunate countrymen.


THE STORY OF HUMAN TRIUMPH

Mr. Tan’s life story is one about hardship, perseverance and human triumph. In these words, Cardinal Sin summed up Mr. Tan’s contributions: “The scholars, homeless, aged, abandoned and sick he has helped will attest that Mr. Tan has been for them a reflection of God’s goodness. They were able to experience the generosity of God through the generosity of Mr. Tan. We are able to see that sheer faith and determination can make wonders and miracles because of Mr. Tan’s life. He has shown us that nobody is born a loser. All of us have the capacity to win and succeed if we placed our trust in God!”