Profile :: The Honorable DANTE A. ANG
Chairman
Tel#: 63(2) 561-8321
Fax#: 63 (2) 561-8332
Email: cfodfa@info.com.ph
Website: http://www.cfo.gov.ph
Dante Arevalo Ang was born on 27 June 1942 to a middle-class mother and a
well-to-do Chinese father who was disinherited by his family for
marrying a Filipina.
He finished his elementary education at St. Joseph’s Academy, Las Pinas
City, and his secondary education
as a parish priest’s scholar at the St. Joseph’s Academy, also
in Las Pinas City.
As a struggling student, he worked his way through high school and college.
He was a working student most of the time and enrolled, whenever his schedule
permitted it, at the Colegio de San Juan de Letran, (Liberal Arts, incomplete)
De La Salle University (Business Administration, incomplete) and Lyceum of
the Philippines University where he obtained his Bachelor of Science in Journalism
degree much later in life.
In 2003, he obtained his Masters in Business Administration, Bene Meritus
(Magna Cum Laude) with a grade of 96.4%, also from Colegio de San Juan de Letran
and his Ph.D. from Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila in 2005.
He started working at age 16 as a surveyor’s assistant at the old Department
of Public Works. Also at a young age, he worked as sacristan at
a local church to keep his soul and body together.
Mr. Ang began his professional life in the communications industry by working
as a drama talent for radio productions at the Chronicle Broadcasting Network.
Eventually, he became a disc jockey and newscaster and scriptwriter for a weekly
live comedy show at CBN.
Venturing into broadcast marketing, he discovered the bigger world of advertising,
public relations and journalism.
By turns, he became an advertising man, television executive, marketing manager,
newspaperman and public relations practitioner.
He turned his back on white-collar work to become a self-employed, independent
entrepreneur. He started publishing a number of small trade publications. He
organized his own public relations and advertising agency. He also became a
consultant to major corporations and distinguished businessmen.
From trade publications, the young entrepreneur turned to big-time publishing,
becoming publisher of a business daily, a Filipino-language newspaper and several
weekly magazines. In 2001, he bought the prestigious newspaper, The Manila
Times.
Among the businesses he organized were those related to printing, real estate,
farming, trading and publishing. In 2002, he became chairman of a thrift bank.
Most of his businesses prospered, making him a significant player in the market
economy, an active contributor to the national economy and a producer of remunerative
jobs.
In 2003, he inaugurated the Manila Times School of Journalism,
the first such school to be operated by an established newspaper. He is the
chairman of the school.
Mr. Ang has worked closely with President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo starting
in 1993 when she was a member of the Senate. He was available on call for consultations
in the areas of communications and public relations.
He also considers four other experiences as important to
his life and development. These include his engagements in international diplomacy,
his contributions to the development of democracy in the Philippines during
and after the Marcos regime, his achievements in the field of marketing and
his experience in labor and employment.
Dante gained his insights and experience in labor relations, labor administration,
employment and human resources development through his long association with
Labor Secretary Blas F. Ople, one time considered as the doyen of labor ministers
in Asia. Starting in 1978, he handled numerous assignments for Secretary Ople,
from publishing to labor-market surveys. Their association deepened when Mr.
Ople joined the Philippine Senate and became minister of foreign affairs.
He was appointed last December 15, 2004, as Chairman of the Commission on
Filipinos Overseas with Cabinet rank.
Ang’s experience in diplomacy fructified in his appointment in 2003
as Honorary Consul General for the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan.
He is currently Executive Director of the Citizens’ Drug Watch Foundation,
a nonprofit advocacy group dedicated to fighting drug abuse and saving Filipino
youth from the scourge of illegal drugs.
The life and work of Dante A. Ang may be summarized in three words: perseverance,
vision and integrity. He pulled himself up using the values of hard work, courage
and determination. Beyond dreaming, he fashioned a vision that he sought to
pursue and achieve. Above all, Dante endeavored to crown his life and work
with probity and integrity, mindful of his beginnings and the legacy he wished
to bequeath his children and grandchildren.
