Ramon Ang says he got COVID-19 thrice

Tycoon Ramon Ang said he contracted COVID-19 thrice in 2020.

In a briefing by the Bureau of Internal Revenue on Wednesday, February 17, the San Miguel Corporation chief also got candid and shared some of the challenges he encountered last year, including the death of his son Jomar.

"Ang natutunan natin ay maging humble, at for the first time in my life, I've experienced na 'yung mga masasakit na pangyayari, na nangyari noong 2020. Namatayan po ako ng anak at tatlong beses ako tinamaan ng COVID-19," Ang said. 

(I learned to be humble, and for the first time in my life, I experienced painful events, all happened in 2020. My son died and I contracted COVID-19 thrice.)

"Despite that, tuloy-tuloy lang po tayong nagtatrabaho (it's business as usual)," he added.

Ang's business empire was among the hardest hit by the pandemic.

His oil firm Petron Corporation incurred a P12.6-billion loss in the first 9 months of 2020, as fuel demand plummeted due to travel restrictions.

Meanwhile, San Miguel's income fell by 73% to P10.7 billion in January-September 2020. The conglomerate's stock price even fell to the P80 level in March 2020, from trading at around P130 before the pandemic.

Ang's companies, so far, have donated over P1 billion worth of food products, ethyl alcohol, fuel, protective gear, and other items in response to the coronavirus crisis.

With the generous donations despite billions of pesos in losses, is he running for Philippine president?

Ang once again shrugged off rumors and joked that he would run for barangay captain.

"Tatakbo akong barangay captain 'pag 85 years old na ako. Sa ngayon po, asikasuhin ko na muna po ang trabaho ko," said the 67-year-old tycoon.

(I'll run for barangay captain when I turn 85 years old. For now, I'll just focus on my work.)

The billionaire businessman said he will continue pushing for more infrastructure projects to help boost the economy. – Rappler.com