Jose Cojuangco - Family - Wife and Children

Wife and Children

Cojuangco was married to Demetria "Metring" Sumulong, daughter of Senator Juan Marquez Sumulong of Rizal province and sister to Lorenzo Sumulong, also a Philippine senator. Their law offices were located within Manila's Plaza Cervantes where Metring used to serve as legal assistant. Demetria was also related to Senator Ceferino de Leon of San Miguel de Mayumo, Bulacan (Senator De Leon's daughter was Philippine Carnival Queen Trinidad Roura de Leon, wife of President Manuel Roxas y Acuña, whose grandson Mar Roxas would be Demetria's grandson Noynoy Aquino's vice president running mate.) Family lore has it that Don Pepe's Chinese grandfather insisted his eldest grandson to marry Metring since she had a mole under her nose, which would bring Pepe wealth beyond compare during his lifetime. The most obedient of the four boys, Don Pepe did not object to the marriage.

The couple had eight children:

• Ceferino (stillborn)

• Pedro or "Pete", married to Rosario "Sari" Cacho. Sari Cojuangco is aunt to Louise "Lisa" Cacho Araneta, wife of Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. (Bongbong Marcos), only son of President Ferdinand Marcos. Their younger son, Fernando "Nando" Cojuangco, is the administrator of Hacienda Luisita while his parents move between California and Manila. Mr. Marcos Jr. is currently a Senator of the Philippines while his wife Louise is a founding partner of the all Ateneo de Manila-alumni Marcos Ochoa Serapio and Tan Law Offices.

• Josephine, married to Nicanor Reyes, Jr. Mrs. Reyes and family owns Far Eastern University and the FEU-Nicanor Reyes Medical Foundation. She was named after her uncle's wife and Danding Cojuangco's mother, Josephine Murphy Cojuangco. They developed Ferndale Homes in Quezon City as well. She was president of FEU from 1985–1989 and held graduate degrees in education.

• Teresita or "Terry", married to Ricardo "Baby" Lopa. The Lopa clan, through their patriarch Manuel Lopa, Sr. and matriarch Purificacion Lopa (immortalized in a beautiful Fernando Amorsolo painting), were close business associates of the Cojuangcos who have mutual investments in Mantrade, First Manila Management, Pantranco, First United Bank, Central Azucarera de Tarlac, and Nissan Philippines. The Lopas made their fortune in the automotive and transportation industries, and were co-founders of Equitable Bank (now Equitable PCI Bank). Baby Lopa and his siblings are known for their extensive collection of Manansala, Amorsolo and other Filipino masterpiece paintings amassed during the 1960s when his father, Don Manuel, and father-in-law, Don Pepe, were at the height of their wealth.

• Carmen, (died at 18 months). Metring's next child was born 4 months later.

• Corazon or "Cory", married to Senator Benigno S. Aquino, Jr. Benigno, or "Ninoy", was born to an influential political family from Tarlac. His grandfather, Servillano Aquino, was a general in the revolutionary army against Spain while his father, Benigno Aquino, Sr. y Quiambao was a former Speaker. Honest politicians, General Servillano and his son were known to refuse any government salary or stipend. To finance their political activities, the Aquinos hocked their three largest haciendas away: Hacienda Lawang, Hacienda Murcia and Hacienda Tinang. Ninoy was previously the youngest governor of Tarlac and a Philippine senator, the staunchest critic of President Ferdinand Marcos and a protégé of President Ramon Magsaysay. Ninoy was assassinated at the tarmac of the Manila International Airport (now Ninoy Aquino International Airport) in 1983.

• Jose Jr. or "Peping", married to Margarita "Tingting" Hernandez de los Reyes. Peping is currently president of the Philippine Olympic Committee and previously a representative of the first legislative district of Tarlac. Margarita was a former governor of Tarlac (1992–1998) and a former model. Through her de los Reyes family, she is related to Gilbert Teodoro (Teodoro's great grandfather was a De los Reyes love child), Philippine Carnival Queen and billionaire attorney Pacita de los Reyes y Ongsiako (later married to an American serviceman), and Imelda de la Paz Ongsiako who married Ramon Cojuangco of PLDT ). One of Jose Jr's daughters married into the Benetton family of Italy that owns the iconic United Colors of Benetton brand, as well as vineyards and lands estancias in Argentina.

• Maria Paz or "Passy", married to Ernesto "Esting" Teopaco. The Teopacos were the neighbors of the Jose Cojuangcos on Roberts Street in Pasay City, parallel to Roxas Boulevard. Other prominent families residing on said road were the Elizaldes, Sorianos, Quezons, Lopas, Cu-Unjiengs and the Oppens (the parents of Soledad Oppen Cojuangco or Gretchen, the wife of Danding Cojuangco). The Teopaco-Cojuangcos were once known for their winning collection of fighting roosters in the 60s and 70s.

Cojuangco was the founder of Mantrade Philippines, the Bank of Commerce, First United Bank, and the Pantranco bus company.