Preceded by Jose Cojuangco, Jr. Role Business person Name Eduardo Jr. | Nationality Filipino Spouse Soledad Oppen Cojuangco | |
 | ||
Succeeded by Vacant
Post later held by Jose Cojuangco, Jr. Full Name Eduardo Murphy Cojuangco, Jr. Born June 10, 1935 (age 88)
Paniqui, Tarlac, Philippine Islands ( 1935-06-10 ) Other political
affiliations Nacionalista Party (1967-1991) Alma mater San Beda College
De La Salle University
University of the Philippines Los Banos
California State College Party Nationalist People\'s Coalition Parents Eduardo Chichioco Cojuangco Education San Beda College, De La Salle University Cousins Corazon Aquino, Jose Cojuangco, Jr. Similar People Jose Cojuangco - Jr, Jose Cojuangco, Corazon Aquino, Francis Escudero, Amado Espino - Jr | ||
Political party NPC (1991-present) | ||
EDUARDO COJUANGCO JR GRADESCHOOL Part 3
Eduardo "Danding" Murphy Cojuangco Jr. (born June 10, 1935) is the chairman of San Miguel Corporation, the largest food and beverage corporation in the Philippines and Southeast Asia, former Philippine ambassador, and former governor of Tarlac. In 2016, his personal wealth was estimated at US$1.1 billion. It was estimated that, at one time, his business empire accounted for 25% of the gross national product of the Philippines. He has been called "one of the country's leading businessmen".
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Political life
Cojuangco was a close adviser and personal friend to former President Ferdinand E. Marcos, which led him to become estranged from his cousin, Corazon Aquino, who, after Marcos' ouster, succeeded him as president. He was a member of the group nicknamed the "Rolex 12", a group of 12 men who were closest to Marcos and allegedly were his enforcers of Martial Law. He is also an honorary member of PMA Class 1951. Cojuangco also was accused by the military men at the scene of Benigno Aquino Jr.'s assassination, as the leader who orchestrated the crime.
He is currently the chairman emeritus of the Nationalist People's Coalition, the party he founded in 1992 which served as his vehicle to further his aspirations in the 1992 presidential elections. He was a candidate for the Philippine presidency in 1992, ultimately losing in a tight election to Fidel V. Ramos. Ramos received 23.6% of the vote. Miriam Defensor Santiago came in second with 19.7% and Cojuangco came in third with 18.2%. He further tested the political waters in 2003, intending to run in the 2004 presidential election, but soon withdrew.
Sports patron
He was also an advocate for sports in the country through using his companies as sponsor for various events. He is notable for supporting basketball in a huge way since the 1980s as a basketball godfather for President Marcos with the famed Northern Consolidated team. Through San Miguel Corporation, he currently owns three teams in the Philippine Basketball Association (the flagship San Miguel Beermen, Barangay Ginebra San Miguel, and Star Hotshots). He is also the key benefactor of the De La Salle Green Archers men's basketball team.
Personal life
Cojuangco is of partial Irish, Spanish, and Chinese descent. He is the eldest child of Eduardo C. Cojuangco Sr. and Josephine B. Murphy. He is married to Soledad "Gretchen" Oppen. They have four children: Margarita "Tina" Cojuangco Barrera, Luisa "Lisa" Cojuangco Cruz, Carlos "Charlie" Cojuangco and Marcos "Mark" Cojuangco.
Cojuangco was educated at Lafayette College. Besides English and Tagalog, he speaks Ilocano and Kapampangan, the native languages of Tarlac province.