Lucia Tan passes away at 77

MANILA, Philippines — Lucia “Letty” Gonzales Tan, 77, spouse of taipan Lucio C. Tan and mother of LT Group president Michael G. Tan, passed away on Monday due to a lingering illness.

She leaves behind her spouse, Lucio C. Tan, 86, and children Michael and Angeline, Sharon and Edgard, John and Nancy, Cherry and Alfred, Timmy and Christine and her beloved grandchildren.

Lucia, known to her friends as “Auntie Letty” was a jolly and doting mother and grandmother. She was also known in social circles as the warm, friendly and affable spouse of the business tycoon, the Tan family said in a statement.

“Our Mom will always be remembered for her kindness and big heart. We will all miss her. May the Lord God bless her soul as she joins Him in heaven,” her children said.

She was also regarded as a tai-tai or a wealthy Chinese woman leader by the Filipino-Chinese community. She spent her later years having lunch or playing mahjong with her female friends.

Among her five children, Michael holds a crucial role in the Tan empire as president and COO of LT Group, the listed holding company of the taipan.

Her daughter Cherry is the wife of Alfred Ty, the son of the late tycoon George Ty.

Lucia was born in Bicol in 1943, but traces her roots to Xiamen province of China.

In November last year, one of Tan’s sons, Lucio “Bong” Tan Jr. also passed away, days after collapsing in a basketball game.

The elder Tan is the country’s fourth richest man according to Forbes. He has a vast business empire that includes banking through Philippine National Bank, tobacco through Fortune Tobacco, airlines through Philippine Airlines, property through Eton Properties, liquor through Tanduay, and beverage through Asia Brewery, among others.

He is now the lone survivor among ethnic Chinese-Filipino taipans who migrated to the Philippines after World War II.

Mrs. Tan’s wake will be at Chapel 3 of the Heritage Park Memorial Chapel in Taguig City from Sept. 2 to 7 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.. Interment will be on Sept, 8 11 a.m. also at Chapel 3,  Heritage Park.