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Manila Bulletin devider Opinion devider Don Emilio

Don Emilio

Published Apr 5, 2024 04:03 pm

MEDIUM RARE

Jullie Y. Daza

My memories of Don Emilio T. Yap, whose 10th death anniversary was marked last Thursday, precede my employment in this newspaper. No wonder, when I looked at the crowd gathered for the unveiling of his bronze bust, I felt ancient.

The sculpture by Abdulmari (Toym) Imao Jr. shows his subject laughing a hearty laugh. Although I never caught the Chairman in such a pose, I could imagine Don Emilio sharing jokes and funny stories with his fellow-Knights of the Round Table, a square table on the top floor of the old Manila Hilton. Gathered for lunch every day like a private club were airport manager Louie Tabuena, Immigration commissioner Munding Reyes, fellow banker Ralph Nubla, and Kokoy Romualdez, later to be named ambassador to the US, China, and Saudi Arabia.

Slicing into their steaks, the top-heavy group appeared to be glibly exchanging news and gossip. Except Don Emilio, the silent one. More often than not, he would be accompanied by his oldest grandson, whom he was grooming to head the Bulletin.

The Don Emilio known to some – by word of mouth – was a philanthropist who kept his checkbook in an unlocked drawer of his desk. According to the head of a foundation working for the widows of policemen killed in line of duty, she was not even halfway through her spiel when the Chairman, without a word, handed her his personal check for a million bucks. To his employees, he was generous with bonuses, even distributing his chairman’s fees. And still the anticipated regular bonuses would follow.  

Don Emilio was a softie when it came to victims of natural and manmade disasters – typhoons, floods, earthquakes, fires – on the heels of which he would decree a fund drive to be announced on page one to touch charitable readers.

Like a dedicated employee, he would show up before his official time, immediately after his daily laps in the pool; then he’d be the last to leave. Later, he’d take a stroll into Manila Hotel, considered the family’s crown jewel. For him, it was an exercise for his legs as well as his peace of mind, to know that all was well and the earth was turning as it should, before calling it a day. 

 

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