William Chiongbian | |
|---|---|
 Chiongbian official portrait during the6th Congress. | |
| Governor of Misamis Occidental | |
| In office 1987 – June 30, 1992 | |
| Vice Governor | Florencio Garcia |
| Preceded by | Gorgonio Buaquiña |
| Succeeded by | Benito Chiongbian |
| Member of thePhilippine National Assembly fromMisamis Occidental'sLone District | |
| In office December 30, 1965 – September 23, 1972 | |
| Preceded by | Guillermo Sambo |
| Succeeded by | Post disestablished |
| In office December 30, 1953 – March 17, 1962 | |
| Preceded by | Porfirio G. Villarín |
| Succeeded by | Guillermo Sambo |
| Personal details | |
| Born | William Lee Chiongbian (1914-12-07)December 7, 1914 |
| Died | August 17, 2002(2002-08-17) (aged 87) |
| Political party | Liberal (1953-1962) Nacionalista (1965-1972) |
| Spouse | Virginia Sy (m. 1939) |
| Alma mater | Silliman University (BS) |
William Lee Chiongbian (December 7, 1914 – August 17, 2002) was a Filipino politician and businessman. He representedMisamis Oriental'sat-large congressional district in theHouse of Representatives. He is also the founder of the Cebu-based shipping company, William Lines and apatron of football in the Philippines.
William Chiongbian was born on December 7, 1914[1] inMisamis (nowMisamis Occidental) to Victoriano Taghap Chiongbian ofJimenez and Rosario Lee (born Lee Chay Hong) who resided inOroquieta. The elder Chiongbian was a politician who was elected as a councilor ofPlaridel in 1925 and became first municipal mayor ofDon Mariano Marcos which was later renamed after him in 1986.[2] His brother, James Chiongbian, was a lone district congressman ofSouth Cotabato from 1969 to 1972.[3]
Chiongbian was first elected as representative ofMisamis Oriental'sat-large district in theHouse of Representatives in 1953. He was re-elected four times in 1957, 1961, 1965, 1969 serving until 1972. However Guillermo Sambo successfully filed an electoral protest against Chiongbian for his election in 1961. Sambo, who was ruled the winner of the 1961 elections by theSupreme Court served from 1962 until 1965.[4]
Chiongbian established the William Lines shipping company on December 13, 1945, makingCebu as its hub. He named a ship M/VVictoriano after his father which had its maiden voyage serving the locales ofCebu toTagbilaran, Bohol andSiquijor, then toPlaridel andOzamiz,Misamis Occidental.[2]
From 1946 to 1949, his citizenship was subject to dispute by theBureau of Customs, which meant that Chiongian could lose his ships since non-Filipino citizens cannot operate and own vessels of Philippine registry at that time. In 1949, theSupreme Court ruled that Chiongbian is a Filipino citizenship explaining that the election of Chiongbian's father into political office had the legal effect of making him a Filipino citizen, which extended to the younger Chiongbian who was a minor at that time.[2]
William Lines' fleet grew to 15 ships and Chiongbian himself was named Shipping Man of the Year by the Business Writers Association of the Philippines. Chiongbian ceded William Lines to his son, Victor in 1966.[2]
Chongbian was involved in football as a patron. A former football player in college, he formed the William Lines Football Team. The football team initially played matches within Cebu against local collegiate teams, seminarians, and visiting teams and later played outside Cebu such as inDumaguete,Bacolod andIloilo which are considered as football strongholds in the country.[5] His team was also among the first Filipino club to employ a foreign coach, when Chiongbian brought in Scottish coachTom Sneddon, who ledHong Kong to a third-place finish in the1956 AFC Asian Cup, to coach William Lines[6]
Chongbian served from 1955 to 1957 as football committee chair of thePhilippine Amateur Athletic Federation.[7] He also contributed to thePhilippines national team providing₱120,000 for the side's preparation for the1958 Asian Games. The team was able to hold training inSpain prior to the games. The Philippines finished as quarterfinalist for that edition of the Asian Games, causing a 1–0 upset against Japan in the group stage in the process.[8]
Chongbian also encouraged the formation of other football teams such as the Casino Español, Hap Hing Hardware and United Hardware.[5]
The William Lines team eventually went to Manila to take part in competitions in the capital. However, due to issues in his shipping business forces Chongbian to disband the team.[5]
Chiongbian died on August 17, 2002, due to a heart attack.[2] He was rushed to the Cebu Doctors Hospital inCebu City but was declared dead on arrival. He was aged 87.[1]
Chiongbian was married to Virginia Sy of the SyCip family and had six children.[2]