Fil-Chi businessman ventures in tourism in region 8

By Philippine Information Agency (PIA 8)
December 11, 2007

TACLOBAN CITY, Leyte  –  Mr. Carlos Chan, a Filipino-Chinese business tycoon from Manila has expressed his desire to invest in the tourism industry in the Region, in support to President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s Super Region concept of development.

Mr. Chan who is the power behind Liwayway Marketing Corporation, the manufacturer of the Oishi brand of snack products, is interested to buy at least five hectares of land for tourism investment at Calicoan Island in Guiuan, Eastern Samar, which is being developed as the major tourist destination of Region 8.

Mr. Henry Yaokasin, president of the Tacloban Filipino-Chinese Chamber of Commerce and Industry informed PIA that Mr. Chan will visit the Region when he comes back from Shanghai where he has a vast Oishi company.

Mr. Yaokasin said that Mr. Chan’s interest brings sunshine to the development of the tourism industry in the Region considering his connections in the countries where he has Oishi manufacturing companies.

Mr. Yaokasin who was instrumental in convincing Mr. Chan to invest in the Region said that he is keeping his fingers crossed that this plan of Mr. Chan will materialize in the near future. He added that he will continue to convince other investors to come to the Region and put up their business here.

Mr. Chan has already been in Region 8 as he has donated several school buildings under the school building project of the Federation of Filipino-Chinese Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Inc. and the Tacloban City Filipino-Chinese Chamber of Commerce and Industry. His latest school donation was built at Barangay Scandinavian Elementary School in Tacloban City.

The history of Liwayway Marketing Corporation dates back to 1946, when a small family business engaged in the repacking of flour and coffee products was established through the efforts of Mr. Chan Lib and his wife, Mrs. See Ying. In 1966, the business was converted into a corporation, as it expanded into the distribution of pomade, candles, candies and sauces.

By 1974, under the second generation management headed by Manuel Chan, LMC diversified into the manufacturing of snack foods such as “Oishi Prawn Crackers” and “Kirei Yummy Flakes.” The snack food business proved to be encouraging that the company eventually concentrated in this enterprise. Over the years, the company invested in more sophisticated equipment to upgrade the quality of their existing products and to develop new ones to introduce to the market. “Oishi” became the patent brand for all our product lines, and has since established itself as a major player in the Philippine snack food market.

In 1993, under the management of Carlos Chan, the company embarked on its first venture in China, beginning with two companies in Shanghai: Shanghai Liwayway Food Industries Limited and Shanghai Prawn Cracker Foodstuff Company Limited. Since then, the China operations have grown to more than 12 companies located all over the mainland under the head company, Liwayway (China) Company, Limited. Their products in China are marketed under the brand “Oishi Shanghaojia,” which in 2001, received the Shanghai Famous Brands award, firmly establishing itself as a major brand in Shanghai, and the rest of China as well.