Ex-senator Paterno, 89

MANILA, Philippines - Former senator Vicente Paterno, chairman of the Philippine Seven Corp. operating the 7-Eleven convenience stores, died yesterday at the St. Luke’s Medical Center in Bonifacio Global City. He was 89.

Paterno held a seat in the Senate from May 1987 to June 1992 under the administration of former President Corazon Aquino.

The Senate leadership is coordinating with the late senator’s family for the conduct of necrological services and tribute to Paterno.

Malacañang said the nation lost a distinguished public servant and exponent of principled governance.

“We extend our deepest sympathy to his widow and children; his passing is a loss to the country but his enduring example will remain a constant source of pride for his loved ones and the Filipino people whom he served so well,” deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte said.

Valte said Paterno, as chairman of the Board of Investments and minister of public highways during the Marcos administration, refused to surrender his independence or integrity.

“He contributed to the rebuilding of the nation after the EDSA revolution as president of the Philippine National Oil Company in 1986, and served as President Corazon C. Aquino’s deputy executive secretary for energy from 1986 to 1987. In the first legislative elections under the 1987 Constitution… Paterno was elected senator,” Valte said.

A respected businessman, Paterno served on the boards of numerous corporations in addition to his family’s enterprises, Valte noted.

“Throughout his public life, whether in the halls of government or the boardrooms of the private sector, he was an exponent of honesty, efficiency, faith and love of country. We recall in particular his advocacy of good governance as one of the prime movers in the formation of the advocacy group, Former Senior Government Officials,” Valte said.

Paterno was born on Nov. 18, 1925 in Quiapo, Manila.

He graduated Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering at the University of the Philippines in 1948 and obtained a Masters in Business Administration at Harvard University in 1953.

Paterno was a lecturer in the graduate school of the UP, La Salle and Ateneo de Manila from 1954 to 1962. He is survived by Socorro Paz Trinidad Pardo with whom he has five children.

The senator’s body was cremated at Heritage Park in Taguig City yesterday. The wake is set at Santuario de San Antonio in Forbes Park, Makati City. – Christina Mendez, Aurea Calica