Few Filipino lives, particularly those who settled or lived in Metro Manila, would be left untouched by the diverse and manifold businesses of a self-made billionaire, Antonio L. Cabangon Chua, who was fondly called “Amba” by those who closely know him. Were he alive today, Amba would have celebrated his 88th birthday anniversary on August 30. And had he been born a day earlier, he would be sharing birthday with all the heroes of our land, although he was no doubt a hero in the eyes of the common tao from whom he sprang. His Horatio Alger story has given inspiration to many, and his rise from humble beginnings has propelled the young and the poor to succeed in life. On the other hand, had he first seen the light of day a day later, he would have shared the limelight with the true icon of the Filipino masses, the late President Ramon F. Magsaysay. Fate gave him his own day since Amba had led a unique life typically his own.
Amba was too young to fight the war and he did not dabble in politics to capture popularity although politicians competed for his support and patronage. He was a friend to President Erap Estrada, and President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo even named him as our Ambassador to Laos. He was a close chum of Mayor Fred Lim and he hobnobbed with the mighty and the powerful in the government and in the private sector. Despite all this, he remained a “taong lupa” as he loved to describe himself. Upon learning of his appointment to an ambassadorial position, it was reported that his own beloved wife, Benny Angeles, exclaimed: “What! A kanto boy being given an ambassadorial post?”
Amba was tough—cursing was part of his colorful language. Even his children were not spared from Amba’s swearing, but this instilled fear and discipline among his children. His 3rd son, Edward, the younger half of twin sons, remembers that after cursing him or his siblings when Amba got mad for their mistakes, he would always say: “I love you, and that’s why I’m swearing at you. If I didn’t love you, I wouldn’t do that. I don’t want what happened to happen again.”
Amba started teaching his children the ropes of business at a young age. Willie, the eldest, recalls that his father’s mind was always about business. And they were introduced slowly to his business concerns. They were asked to help at the pawnshop, and when they got older, the boys were even sent to the motels to do office work. One of the twins who was assigned to one of the motels in Pasay during school break was seen numerous times by his classmates living near the area and they thought he was a regular patron there. He had to explain that his family owns the business. Amba operated motels and nightclubs, which were shunned by many investors and denounced by some self-righteous groups. Yet he was a close friend of both Cardinal Jaime Sin and Cardinal Gaudencio Rosales, two of our most loved Archbishops of Manila. He had given support to many of the Church’s projects and had even personally built the popemobile customized vehicle that Pope Francis used to secure his sorties in Tacloban and in Metro Manila.
Once, while I was seated next to him as a guest in one of his company’s anniversary celebrations, he told me jokingly that none of his investments is as good as the motels. “Every customer pays in cash, nobody issues a check payment or pays in credit card, no one demands a receipt and it’s out of this world if an unhappy customer files a complaint.” However, his legendary business exploits contributed to our economy and the business conglomerate he founded had provided livelihood to thousands of Filipino families.
Amba dipped his fingers in every business enterprise that churned out money and practically succeeded in all his endeavors. His extensive business interests covered pawnshop, restaurant, banking, life and non-life insurance, pre-need, healthcare, memorial gardens and chapels, hotels, motels, security services, printing and publication, car dealership, real estate and others. Amba also delved in movie production and produced top-grossing films that featured leading actors of his day like Fernando Poe Jr. At one point, he owned several movie houses where both local and foreign produced films were exhibited. He also went into the mining and lumber industry. He even tried oil exploration. To streamline the operations and management of his companies, he set up and headed the ALC Group of Companies, the umbrella organization of his business empire whose current chairman now is his second son, D. Edgard. It seems that Amba had a Midas touch when it comes to business. His man Friday, Boy Salazar, who served Amba for more than four decades, believed that Amba had an “agimat” or a talisman, which explained Amba’s uncanny business instinct. He had a gut feel for business like when he declined the chance to operate the Bingo Two-Balls as an alternative to the jueteng during President Erap’s time. About a month later, problems started for the former president, which eventually led to his ouster from Malacañang. This is seconded by his son’s Jun, Amba’s junior and namesake, who describes his father as a “gut-instinct guy. He does not read reports…but it works for him, so you cannot fault him.” His long time friend, Judge Pedro Santiago, said that Amba “does not believe in project studies. And the judge quotes him: “It’s only paper. If you want to sell an idea, you can always make it look good on paper. I trust my gut feel.” Amba’s range of businesses had grown that in the words of his best friend, National Artist Nick Joaquin, “has a little of everything, from erection to resurrection.”
He lost his father and their concrete house built on a rented lot in Malate during the war. Homeless, Amba, an illegitimate child, and his mother moved to Bo. Namayan in Mandaluyong. Initially, a friend allowed them to board for free although the place was small and crowded. The kind hosts even shared their food with them as young Amba’s mother was still looking for menial jobs to earn a living. When his mom got some odd jobs, they rented a small place. Their house, a hole in the wall, was an entresuelo along Vergara St., which they shared with a couple. Amba was a product of his time. He grew up during the war without a father who was reportedly executed by the Japanese for helping the resistance. He was no stranger to poverty and hardship and knew how to sleep with an empty stomach. He was street smart and a survivor of life’s harshest trials. And he had a brave heart and an iron will to put his business ideas into action. For him, no sea was deep enough to fathom and no mountain was stiff enough to scale. His son Arnold, who’s the President & CEO of the family’s life insurance business, recalled that his father admonished all his children that in life, “hindi ka dapat manggulang, at hindi ka rin dapat magpagulang.” In his business dealings, it was his policy not to take advantage of others but neither had he allowed others to take advantage of him. Fairness was the name of the game and that was Amba’s guidepost in business.
His family and friends believed that no man worked as hard as Amba to reach his goals. He promised himself and his mother that he would become a millionaire before he reaches age 40. This was the time when becoming a millionaire was one in a million, and he did that with years to spare. His life’s motto was: Whether you’re rich or poor, everyone has 24 hours in a day. It’s what you do with your 24 hours that counts. In life, you never give up.”
People remember Amba for his humility and benevolence. He never bragged about his achievements and his wealth. His sense of gratitude is legendary. He never forgot the kind people who had helped him in the past. For instance, he tracked his old neighbor who gave shelter to him and his mother when they lost their house during the war. He visited them in their decrepit place and gave them money and jobs to the family members who needed work. He helped an old friend win a legal battle in court. The poor accused once lent him some money when Amba was just starting his pawnshop business. His ever loyal personal assistant, Boy Salazar, recounted that “every Christmas, Don Antonio (Amba) would have wallets with money in them that he’d go around and give to all the contemporaries of his mother who were still living. And if they had grandchildren looking for work, he’d find jobs for them… And they’d be hired on the spot.” And Boy added, “That’s his secret—he’s not selfish. He always tells us, ‘You have to spread the sunshine.’”
That sums up Amba’s life. So, if it does not rain today, that’s Amba spreading his sunshine.