MANILA, Nov. 10 (Xinhua) -- Philippine tycoon and philanthropist John Gokongwei Jr. died late on Saturday night, his son said on Sunday. He was 93.
Gokongwei was born on Aug. 11, 1926 in southeast China's Fujian Province.
Lance Gokongwei, Gokongwei's only son, said in a statement that his father died Saturday evening at a Manila hospital.
"Our beloved husband, father and grandfather John Gokongwei Jr. passed away peacefully at 11:41 p.m.(local time), Nov. 9 at the Manila Doctor's Hospital surrounded by his loved ones," the younger Gokongwei said.
Gokongwei founded JG Summit in 1957, which has interests in air transportation, telecommunications, banking, food, power, and property.
Universal Robina Corp., which he started in 1957 as a cornstarch plant, is one of the Philipines' largest food and beverage companies. The Gokongweis own the Robinsons mall chain, property developer Robinsons Land Corporation, snack food and beverage company Universal Robina Corporation and budget carrier Cebu Pacific.
