by Danny S. Venida
I learned that our Chairman’s age jumped from 68 to 70 years on his birthday last October 22. There is a unique way the Chinese makes the count. 70 years make a real milestone, indeed. If 90 were to be the terminal year for the male specie, we are in our last quarter when we hit 67, and moving on to 70 shows the clock is surely ticking. And we can only pray, we are not in the last 2 minutes yet.
I am privileged to be with Tony now as we plan to bring his creation, INFARMCO to the year 2032. I was privileged to have been with him when he started the farm in Cabuyao in 1982. We hope we will still be around and see what we will make of the company in 16 more years when Tony will be 86. Perhaps, Vitacel will become a longevity formula so he can get to be 100 plus.
It has been a great honor to be Tony’s friend for the last 46 years, a friendship made strong in the exuberance of youth with other close friends at CRC whom we continue to get-together with until today. I met my wife Amy through Tony. I am certain Amy has forgiven Tony for causing her to blunder marrying me. And when he visited Vancouver in 2013 for the wedding of my youngest daughter and as we emptied a bottle of whiskey, I got to share with him that at this stage of my life, I have found and believe in the constant Presence of our Creator in our whole being. God is in each one right now celebrating with us Tony’s birthday. This is Heavenly! And I don’t need alcohol to be able to share this Truth I live by.
I am specially blessed to have been received as family in the Chua home. Thank you, Mama Lekheng. And thank you, Tony. May you be blessed with many more happy years, with the love of your lovely daughter, Jenny.
Happy 70th Birthday!
