Du Ek Sam matriarch is Tobaw awardee

In the recent Tigum Bol anon Tibook Kalibutan, one of the awardees of The Outstanding Boholanos Around the World or TOBAW is a matriarch of Jagna named Melecia Uy Du. For an obscure wife of a copra trader to be the head of one of the most respected dealers of appliances in Southern Philippines, this is no mean feat.

To be ranked with awardees like Efren Chatto for Agriculture, Dr. Alma Bella P. Madrazo for Engineering, Merliza Makinano for International Labor Relations, Prudencia Cruz for Library Science, Cesar Montano for Performing Arts. Atty. Isidro Real Jr. for Public Service, Rear Admiral Rogelio Calunsag for Military Service. Dr. Antonio Daquipa for Medicine and Dr. Rico Cruz for Science is something that could not be achieved by an ordinary person. The sponsors of the award are prestigious institutions of the province like the Tigum Bol anon Tibook Kalibutan , which literally means the gathering of Boholanos around the world and the First Consolidated Bank with the support of the Local government Unit, the Province of Bohol, Diocese of Tagbilaran, Bohol Chronicle and the radio station DYRD. Any Boholano would be proud to receive recognition and award from institutions like these.

Melecia Uy a daughter of Uy Kia Kee formerly of Dimiao, who later moved to Tagbilaran City married Samuel Du or Du Ek Sam, the stepson of Du Que Kwan or Pascual Du of Jagna. Pascual Du, together with his brother, Du .Que Chiong, was the biggest buyer of copra in the area. Their business was lucrative, they bought copra from the countryside at competitive prices and selling it to exporters. As Pascual grew older the management of the copra business fell on eldest male member of the Du Que Kwan family, Du Ek Sam. When Pascual died Du Ek Sam inherited the business.

The hey day of copra did not last. President Ferdinand Marcos came to power. The control of the copra business was concentrated on the few, who were in the graces of the administration. The operations of the countryside copra traders were taken over by favored persons. Despite the fact that the control of the copra business was broken at the demise of the Marcos rule few copra traders were able to recover. At the death of Pascual the running of the Du business was inherited by Du Ek Sam. One would not know it but the Du Ek Sam family has to undergo tribulations that would daunt lesser persons. The family business was registered under the name of the patriarch Du Ek Sam. First the family went into rice milling. They acquired a ricemill from a Canupao businessman Cesar Felias and made it a paying concern. Then a gasoline station was established. Later, they tried their hand in selling motorcycles.

Meanwhile the family was growing and the children have to be educated. Esam and Mining Du were not contented that their children would be all tied up in business. They have to have other opportunities. One went to medicine, another took up law and the others tried for a degree on Commerce. As Du Ek Sam grew older, the running of the enterprise gradually fell on the shoulders of Melecia Du. When Du Ek Sam died, the running of the business went to Mening Du. The Du Ek Sam was registered as a closed family corporation in 1979, with all the children as incorporators and members. Then they found a niche where they would succeed. They went to the appliances business. Their business acumen, hard work, fair dealing and concern for their working force made their business going.

From Jagna, the business grew and branched out to the cities of Bohol , Cebu and the provinces of Negros Oriental and Occidental, Siquijor and the island of Panay . Award after award were won by the company. It won top awards from Sharp Philippines and Sony; Honda and Kawasaki Motors. Despite these successes, life is still not a bed of roses for the Du Ek Sam Inc. Gilbert, the eldest son, though a member of the corporation struck out on his own and has several branches in Mindanao . Two of them met an early end. Medy Lim a daughter and Edward Du, the lawyer met an untimely death. In a sprawling enterprise like Du Ek Sam Inc., it is natural that conflicts among the incorporators will always be present. The firm hand of Melecia Uy Du holds the Du Ek Sam Inc. intact. Nang Mening will always be at the helm of the Du Ek Sam Inc despite the changes of the presidency of the corporation. Holding a far-flung enterprise intact is no mean feat. Filial piety may play a significant factor in the unity of the Du Ek Sam but it is the ability of Melecia Uy Du to hold them together that counts.

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