Edgar Cokaliong street, Cebu City
Edgar Cokailong built a textile business empire founded on perseverance, industry, frugality, and discipline. Chester Enterprises, the flagship business trademark of the family, expanded to the shipping business. This started with the maiden voyage of its vessel on December 8, 1989 of the Edgar Cokaliong Shipping Lines now known as the mighty and durable Cokaliong Shipping Lines Inc. (recipient of numerous awards from MARINA, Philippine Coast Guard, and DOLE).
Edgar Cokaliong married Gregoria, the third child of the eight children of spouses Pauline Cue and Julita Lee, owners of the Sen Hiap Hing Department Store, Cebu’s longest-existing department store located in Cebu’s former trade center at the corner of Borromeo and Manalili streets, adjacent to Magallanes Street.
Edgar Cokaliong died three days after the maiden voyage of his vessel, yet his legacy of business excellence and service to the Cebuanos continues with his children and grandchildren. The family, through the Edgar Cokaliong Scholarship Foundation, gratefully extends academic assistance to the youths of Cebu.
Edgar, when he was still alive, supported the law enforcement pillar of the government, he was then recognized by the PC-INP Regional Command 7 under the leadership of Brigadier General Emilio M. Narcise. This patriotism is continued by his son, Chester, who for decades has silently supported the Philippine National Police and other law enforcement agencies, among them the CIDG when he headed the Regional Advisory Council of its Regional Office in Central Visayas. Chester, an alumnus of the Cebu Eastern College (Cebu’s oldest Chinese school, founded in 1915) is a school benefactor who builds gyms and supports academic and athletic programs, he presently heads the family business empire ably supported by his siblings, Christopher, Cherrylene, and Charlton.
The City of Cebu through the Cebu City Council, as symbol of its grateful appreciation, renamed the 3rd Avenue in the North Reclamation Area in Cebu City as Edgar Cokaliong Street.
Let the street renaming remind every Cebuano who walks and passes by it that a man who once had nothing, only a big dream, perseverance, and faith in the greatness of being a Cebuano, built an empire. May the life of Edgar Cokaliong inspire the youths of today and the future generations that Cebu indeed is the home of great men and women.
The street renaming is enacted by City Ordinance No. 2549 on December 18, 2019. The street marker was unveiled on February 9, 2020. The ordinance was initiated by lawyer Edgardo Colina Labella, who was a member of the city council then, it was revived by lawyer Raymond Alvin Neri Garcia. It was approved by Cebu City Mayor Edgardo C. Labella on December 27, 2019.
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