PAL Holdings president Lucio Tan Jr., 53, passes away

PAL Holdings Inc. (PHI) president Lucio “Bong” Tan Jr. passed away Monday morning due to brain herniation.

“It is with deep sorrow that I announce the passing of my brother, Lucio “Bong” Tan Jr. this morning, November 11, 2019. He was 53. His untimely passing leaves a big void in our hearts and our Group's management team which would be very hard to fill,” Vivienne Tan said in a statement.

“Bong was a son, husband, father, friend and, most importantly, our elder brother whom we all relied on for advice, counsel and leadership,” she added.

He is survived by his wife Julie and sons Hun hun (Lucio Tan III) and Kyle.

“Our sincerest thanks to all who offered prayers and shared words of comfort during this hour of grief,” Vivienne said.

“Our family continues to request everyone to respect our wish for privacy as we go through this very difficult time. We ask for your prayers for the eternal repose of his soul,” she added.

In a separate text message, family friend and Insurance Commissioner Dennis Funa said “Bong Tan expired this morning.”

Funa said Bong Tan’s relatives notified him of this development. Funa said the cause of death was brain herniation.

According to the National Library of Medicine’s MedlinePlus, brain herniation is the “shifting of the brain tissue from one space in the brain to another through various folds and openings.”

“They tried to revive him for 18 minutes. They are awaiting the arrival of his son from the US,” said Funa.

Saint Jude Catholic School posted an obituary regarding the death of Tan, an alumnus of the school.

“Mr. Tan, Jr. passed away at 8:48 a.m. today,” it said in a posting on its Facebook account.

“Saint Jude Catholic School mourns the passing of its alumnus, Mr. Lucio “Bong” Khao Tan Jr. (14 June 166 - 11 November 2019) of Batch 1983,” it said.

Tan was hospitalized since Saturday, after he collapsed at during a basketball game in Mandaluyong City.

Last month, Bong Tan assumed the top position of PAL Holdings which was vacated by Gilbert Gabriel Santa Maria for “personal reasons.”

The Tan patriarch Lucio is currently the sixth richest man in the Philippines at $2.8 billion.

Bong Tan’s untimely demise comes on the heels of the passing of JG Summit Holdings Inc. founder and chairman emeritus John Gokongwei Jr. on Saturday evening. He was 93.

The Gokongwei patriarch is the third richest person in the country, according to the 2019 Forbes Philippines Rich List, with a net worth of $5.3 billion. He was named “Management Man of the Year” by the Management Association of the Philippines in 2017. —VDS, GMA News