For rarely are sons similar to their fathers: most are worse, and a few are better than their fathers. – Greek poet Homer
The question of whether we can be greater than our fathers may seem impertinent and disrespectful, especially today, Father’s Day. I must confess that though I idolized my late dad, sawmill entrepreneur Lee Tek Hong, my secret childhood goal was to someday exceed him and all our illustrious paternal forebears.
Among my favorite heroes is Alexander the Great, the world conqueror who exceeded his father, King Philip II of Macedon. Greek historian Plutarch claims that Alexander’s real father was the supreme god Zeus. When Philip married a fifth wife and the bride’s uncle toasted the future birth of a legitimate heir to the Macedon throne, the teenaged Alexander angrily threw a goblet at the man and his dad drew a sword at him but fell in a drunken stupor. Before leaving Macedonia with his mother and sister, Alexander said, "Here is the man planning on conquering from Greece to Asia, and he cannot even move from one table to another." Alexander later reconciled with his dad before the latter was assassinated.
Emperor Li Shi-min was the son of the first emperor of the Tang Dynasty, but it was he who made Tang one of the most glorious eras in Asian history. Up to this day, many overseas Chinese refer to China as Teng-swa or the "Tang Mountains," and the ethnic Chinese in Malaysia, Brunei and Singapore refer to Chinese people as teng-lang or the Tang people.
Yuan Dynasty founder Genghis Khan was the son of the khan of Borjigin named Yesugei. He was a boy when his father was poisoned and he had to fight his way up as world conqueror. Qin Shih Huangdi was the son of Zichu, a prince of the royal house of Qin (pronounced Chin) who later became king. Qin Shih Huangdi later ascended the Qin throne, conquered warring kingdoms to unify China and become world-famous for constructing the Great Wall.
Gen. Douglas MacArthur was the son of former US military governor-general of the Philippines Gen. Arthur MacArthur. He not only outshone his dad at West Point Military School, but also followed him to the Philippines, becoming the liberator of our archipelago from bloody Japanese rule and an American hero.
King Frederick the Great of Prussia had a stormy relationship with his father, King Frederick William, who once subjected him to bloody and humiliating beatings as a youth. King Frederick became one of the most enlightened rulers of Europe.
In Hollywood Michael Douglas was only six year-old when his parents divorced and he saw his father, actor Kirk Douglas, only during weekends. When the teenager asked his dad to help him enter showbiz, Kirk furiously opposed. Years later when Michael became famous, a proud Kirk said, "If I’d known what a big shot Michael was going to be, I would have been nicer to him when he was a kid."
Some daughters in entertainment have surpassed their fathers as well. Hollywood goddess Angelina Jolie is now more famous and successful than her father, actor Jon Voight (they’re both Oscar winners, by the way). Megastar Sharon Cuneta-Pangilinan has become more famous than her late father, Pasay City Mayor Pablo Cuneta. Kris Aquino is also now more famous than the late Senator Ninoy Aquino, even at the height of his political career.
Regal Entertainment founder Lily Yu Monteverde has exceeded the business success of her late dad, the copra taipan Domingo Yu Chu, with the support of her husband Remy Dy-Monteverde.
Miss World finalist and actress Ruffa Gutierrez and her brother Richard Kristian Gutierrez have outshone former matinee idol Eddie Gutierrez, while Martin Nievera has surpassed Bert Nievera.
Another fine example of a rich kid who did better than his own rich dad is Metrobank Group/Toyota Philippines taipan George S.K. Ty, whose late father was top textile and flour industrialist Norberto Ty. Accounting topnotcher and SGV Group founder Washington SyCip is the youngest son of the late pre-war Chinese Chamber of Commerce president, China Bank chairman and bar exam topnotcher Dr. Albino SyCip. Prudential Guarantee boss Robert Coyiuto Jr. and First Life CEO Peter Coyiuto and Alfonso Yuchengco of Malayan/Grepalife have all surpassed their late fathers – the rivals Robert Coyiuto, Sr. and Enrique Yuchengco.
Rupert Murdoch, son of Australian media owner Sir Keith Murdoch, is now a global media tycoon with his News Corp., Fox TV, Star TV and 20th Century Fox. The 19th-century finance kingpin JP Morgan also out-earned his financier dad Junius Spencer Morgan.
Can Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong someday surpass his legendary dad and founding father Lee Kuan Yew? Can controversial US President George Walker Bush be greater than his father? Can Bongbong or Imee Marcos, Noynoy Aquino, and Mar Roxas be greater than their dads, President Marcos, Senators Ninoy Aquino and Gerry Roxas, respectively? Can President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo honor the memory of and exceed the reputation of her late father President Diosdado Macapagal who lost his re-election bid?