Vicente Paterno

Vicente Tirona Paterno (18 November 1925 – 21 November 2014) was a Filipino businessman and politician. He served as Minister of Industry (1974–1979) and of Public Highways (1979–1980) during the Ferdinand Marcos' government. He later served as member of the Senate of the Philippines from 1987 to 1992.

Vicente Tirona Paterno was born in Quiapo, Manila on November 18, 1925 to Jose P. Paterno and Jacoba Encarnacion Tirona.

He earned his Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering degree at the University of the Philippines in 1948 and obtained Master of Business Administration at Harvard University in 1953.

Paterno was a lecturer in graduate school of U.P., La Salle and Ateneo de Manila from 1954 to 1962.

He is survived by his wife Baby, his children Judy, Mailin, Maite, Victor and Tina, and his eight grandchildren.

In October 1982 he founded Philippine Seven Corp. He is known for becoming the first general manager of Phinma and the first Filipino treasurer of Manila Electric Company (Meralco).

Paterno started Philippine Seven Corporation in 1982. Popularly known as 7-Eleven, the convenience store has over 1,200 branches in the country.

He served as independent director for different companies such as City Resources Phil Corp., Benpres Holdings Corp., Metro Pacific Tollways Corp., Cityland Development Corp. and of First Philippine Holdings. He eventually resigned as his health failed.

Paterno won several awards – the 1982 MAP Management Man of the Year, the Order of the Sacred Treasure from the Emperor of Japan, and the 2013 Ramon V. del Rosario Award.

He was elected as a representative to the Batasang Pambansa following his resignation from the late stronghold former President Ferdinand Marcos’ Kilusang Bagong Lipunan. At the time, he criticized the administration’s response to the assassination of opposition Senator Benigno “Ninoy” Aquino Jr.

He then became chairman of the National Citizens’ Movement for Free Elections (Namfrel) in Metro Manila during the 1986 presidential elections.

Afterwards, Paterno, a graduate of the Harvard Business School, was appointed Deputy Executive Secretary for Energy from April 1986 to February 1987, and Chairman of the Philippine National Oil Company from March 1986 to February 1987.

Then President Corazon Aquino convinced him to run for senator. He succeeded and served from 1987 to 1992.

Former Senator Vicente Paterno died at 8:40 in the morning Friday. He was 89 years old.

A report by radio dzBB said the remains of the late senator will be brought to Sanctuario de San Antonio after the cremation at Heritage Park. The wake will start Friday night.

Malacañang mourned the death of the former senator, saying the nation has lost a distinguished public servant and exponent of principled governance.

“We extend our deepest sympathy to his widow and children; his passing is a loss to the country but his enduring example will remain a constant source of pride for his loved ones and the Filipino people whom he served so well,” deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte said in a press statement.

She said that as chairman of the BOI and Minister of Public Highways in the Marcos administration, Paterno refused to surrender his independence or integrity and contributed to the rebuilding of the nation after the EDSA Revolution as president of the PNOC.

“A respected businessman, he served on the boards of numerous corporations in addition to his family’s own enterprises. Throughout his public life, whether in the halls of government or the boardrooms of the private sector, he was an exponent of honesty, efficiency, faith and love of country," she added.

Valte said also notable was Paterno's advocacy of good governance as one of the prime movers in the formation of the advocacy group, Former Senior Government Officials.