Danding Cojuangco

Eduardo "Danding" Murphy Cojuangco Jr. (June 10, 1935 – June 16, 2020) was a Filipino businessman and politician. He was the chairman and CEO of San Miguel Corporation, the largest food and beverage corporation in the Philippines and Southeast Asia.^[1][2]

Early life and education

Eduardo Murphy Cojuangco Jr. was born on June 10, 1935, the first-born child of Eduardo Chichioco Cojuangco and Josephine B. Murphy. He completed his high school education at De La Salle College.^[1]

Life during the Marcos administration

Cojuangco's close relationship with Philippine president Ferdinand E. Marcos earned him a reputation as one of the late dictator's most powerful "cronies". He was called "one of the country's leading businessmen".^[1]

Role during Martial Law

Cojuangco was the only civilian among the "Rolex 12", a group of 12 men who planned and enforced the 1972 imposition of Martial Law.^[1]

Coco Levy Fund controversy

Cojuangco was implicated in the Coco Levy Fund controversy, a decades-long dispute over funds acquired by the Philippine Government when the Marcos administration levied a tax on copra sold by the Philippines' coconut farmers from 1973 to 1982.^[1]

Political roles after 1986

When Ferdinand Marcos was ousted by the People Power revolution in February 1986, Cojuangco was flown out of the country and into exile along with the Marcos family and Fabian Ver, departing in the early morning of February 25, 1986. Cojuangco was allowed to return in 1989, having spent most of his exile breeding and racing horses in Australia.^[1]

Involvement in sports

Cojuangco advocated for sports in the country, notably basketball, having supported it since the 1980s as a basketball godfather with his Northern Consolidated team. Through San Miguel Corporation, he was able to own three teams in the Philippine Basketball Association: the flagship San Miguel Beermen, Barangay Ginebra San Miguel, and Magnolia Hotshots. He was also a key benefactor of the De La Salle Green Archers men's basketball team.^[1]

Personal life

Cojuangco was the eldest child of Eduardo C. Cojuangco Sr. and Josephine B. Murphy.^[1]

Death

Cojuangco died on June 16, 2020, of heart failure and pneumonia at the St. Luke's Medical Center – Global City, six days after his 85th birthday.^[1]

Legacy

On April 29, 2022, then President Rodrigo Duterte signed Republic Act No. 11729, declaring every 10 June each year a public special holiday in the province of Tarlac as Danding Cojuangco Day.^[1]