The patriarch of OG Holdings, owner of the centrally-located BQ Mall, died in his sleep yesterday. Antonio Ong Guat died at the ripe age of 94 years old. Ong Guat, as he was popularly known, pioneered the retail business when Tagbilaran was still reeling from the ravages of World War II. Starting with a small establishment which he called as Bohol Quality Store at the Lumayag building infront of the St. Joseph School (now Holy Spirit School ), Ong Guat specialized in school supplies.

The school has since engaged in general merchandize when it transferred its location in the busy downtown area. When the mall fever hit this city, it was the Ongs through son Frederick, started it all. What used to be the corner lot where Bohol Quality Store stood becomes an outlet of the multi-national MacDonalds. The food giant is a tenant of the BQ property. The prime lot in downtown Tagbilaran has since expanded to practically the entire block bordered by CPG Avenue , H. Grupo and Gallares Sts. giving way to what now proudly stands as BQ Mall.

Another OG Holdings business along CPG Avenue is the Metro Center Hotel which houses two restaurants and a 24-hour convenience store. Just a few meters away is the hardware arm of the conglomerate named Builderware, a full service store dealing in household and construction materials. The late Ong Guat is survived by his wife Luisa and children Fred and Babs Gonzaga; Lourdes and Faro Go (now deceased); Ben and Atie Huan; Tessie and Tony Tan; 12 grandchildren and eight great grandchildren.