Joecon, 92

- Advertisement -

Jose “Joecon” Concepcion Jr., businessman, public servant and civic leader, passed away yesterday, March 6, at the age of 92.

CONCEPCION

Concepcion was former secretary of trade and industry, former chairman of the board of RFM Corp., and founder of the election watchdog National Citizens Movement for Free Elections (Namfrel).

As secretary of trade, Concepcion promoted local industries through the “Yes, the Filipino can” movement.

- Advertisement -

Under his guidance, RFM became one of the country’s biggest food and beverage companies, engaged in diversified businesses such as animal feed milling, poultry, and livestock, and meat processing under  license from American company Swift.

As a delegate to the Constitutional Convention of 1971, Concepcion championed constitutional principles that would democratize the nation’s capital base to allow Filipino manufacturers to thrive.

Secretary Alfredo Pascual of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) said the agency mourns the loss of  Concepcion who he described as a stalwart of entrepreneurship and business advocacy.

Flags at DTI offices are at half mast to honor the late secretary.

Concepcion headed DTI from 1986 to 1991.

Former DTI Secretary Ramon Lopez, who previously worked at RFM as  vice president and executive assistant to the President and CEO of the company, said  Concepcion
“was a big inspiration to many of us, in the fight for freedom,” and gave “the positive mindset we adopted in Go Negosyo,“ an entrepreneurship program founded by Concepcion’s son,Jose Ma. III, now president and CEO of RFM Corp.

The Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI) described Joecon as a visionary known for his fiery brand of leadership and passion, and a giant among his fellows who demonstrated the rule of inspiring others.

Concepcion was chairman of the PCCI’s Asean Committee and Philippine chairman of the Asean Business Advisory Council and East Asia Business Council  when these were founded in 2002.

Makati Business Club (MBC), in honoring   Concepcion, credited his leadership in Namfrel for helping establish transparency in the historic 1986 election.

Concepcion served as  an MBC trustee in 1984 to 1986.

Namfrel meanwhile vowed to carry on the legacy of  Concepcion who helped establish the group in 1983.

“Joecon inspired hundreds of thousands of ordinary Filipinos to take up the cause of free and fair elections and to volunteer to join Namfrel,” the poll watchdog said in a statement.

“Filipinos heeded his call, and his legacy lives on in the hearts of every Namfrel volunteer, who strives to continue what he and his fellow Namfrel pioneers started,” it added.

It also believes that the legacy of Concepcion will continue in other countries that followed the beginnings of the first citizen-led national election monitoring organization in the world.

Concepcion  is survived by his wife, the former Maria Victoria Araneta, his eight children and his 31 grandchildren, and his twin brother, Raul.

Public viewing will start on March 7 (4 p.m. to 10 p.m.) and from March 8 to 10 (1 p.m. to 10 p.m.) at the Chapel 4 and 5 of Heritage Memorial Park in Taguig City.

A requiem mass will be offered on March 11 at 1:30 p.m. at the Santuario de San Antonio Parish Church, Forbes Park, Makati City. Irma Isip and Gerard Naval

- Advertisement -spot_img

Author

- Advertisement -

Share post: