Antonio Cabangon Chua

Antonio L. Cabangon-Chua (August 30, 1934 – March 11, 2016) was a Filipino businessman, Philippine ambassador to Laos under the administration of former president Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, and reserved colonel of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, being an honorary member of Philippine Military Academy class of 1956. He graduated from the University of the East in the same year, with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration degree.

He received a doctorate in the Humanities, honoris causa, from the Adamson University.

Early life Being called "Tony", His mother would later be a philanthropist.

Had a hobby of watching movies, he used to go to Bellevue Theater, which he later bought.

"Ka Tony" Cabangon-Chua was also a tri-media magnate, having owned some business interests related to media, including newspaper BusinessMirror, tabloid Pilipino Mirror, magazines Philippine Graphic Weekly, View and Cook, and the radio network Aliw Broadcasting Corporation that operates AM radio station DWIZ and FM radio station Home Radio 97.9.

He was also the chairman of Nine Media Corporation, the media company behind CNN Philippines (now RPTV, in partnership with TV5 Network) and the state-owned Radio Philippines Network, as he acquired the 34% stake of RPN from Solar Entertainment Corporation in 2014 due to the Tieng's loss of revenue after investing on RPN. He was also the chairman and president of the Catholic Mass Media Awards Foundation, appointed by former Manila archbishop Cardinal Jaime Sin from 2000 until his death.

In October 2014, Cabangon–Chua led the successful negotiations between the TV network and CNN International, that paved way for the launch of CNN Philippines, a free-to-air TV news channel aired on RPN-9.

In 2015, the Kapisanan ng mga Brodkaster ng Pilipinas (KBP) awarded Cabangon-Chua with the Lifetime Achievement Award for his remarkable contributions in the broadcasting business as the founder and chairman emeritus of ABC.

On the same year, the Catholic Mass Media Awards confers the Special Award for Devoted Service to the Church through the Mass Media award to Cabangon-Chua.

Government career During the presidency of Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, Cabangon–Chua served as the Philippine ambassador to Laos (January 2003–August 2004).

Personal life and death Cabangon-Chua was noted supporting literature, music and the arts, and helped journalists in need. He was a colonel in the Armed Forces of the Philippines' Reserve Force. He was later buried at a cemetery in San Felipe Neri, Mandaluyong.

Legacy Cabangon–Chua established Dominga L. Cabangon Memorial Foundation in 1978, in honor of his mother, giving educational assistance; as well as Quijano de Manila Foundation more than three decades later, in honor of his friend and biographer, National Artist for Literature Nick Joaquin, helping aspirant writers. A sequel, No Dream Too Tall, was made by another Graphic editor and writer Jose Lacaba, and Eric Caruncho.