The ashes of Donald G.Dee, president of the Employers Confederation of the Philippines (ECOP), were entombed at a crypt in Santuario De San Antonio Church in Forbes Park following a holy mass in the morning of Wednesday , 5 December 2016. ECOP Board of Governors Chair Edgardo G. Lacson and ECOP Council of Leaders Chair Jose Pardo both delivered eulogies to honor the memory of Mr. Dee. His three children, a granddaughter and daughter-in-law also paid emotional tributes to him .
Dee was President of ECOP for two terms. He served his first term in 2000-2003. His second term started in the middle of 2016 and ended when he passed away on 1 December 2018 after battling a lingering illness for more than two (2) years.
His four (4) day wake witnessed a large number of relatives, friends, and associates paying their respects to Dee who they remember for his long achievements as a business leader, businessman and government official.
Who is Donald G. Dee?
Donald G. Dee was born on November 8, 1946. He was 72 when he passed away on 1 December 2018.
At the time of his death, he was serving his second term as President of the Employers Confederation of the Philippines (ECOP) which started in May 2016.His first term was on 2000-2013.
Mr. Dee was Honorary Chairman and Chief Operating Officer (COO) of the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI), and Founding Trustee of the Philippine Business for Education (PBED). He was also a former Council member of the ASEAN Business Advisory Council (ABAC)-Philippines.
He also served as Special Envoy for Trade Negotiations under the Arroyo administration. He was the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Universal Access to Competitiveness and Trade (U-ACT), an affiliate think-tank of the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI).
As a businessman, he was also the President of Phoenix Resource and Management Corporation. He is also a Director of the Manila Exposition Complex, Inc. and President of Pan Pacific Airways. He was a member of the Beacheads – South East Asia New Zealand Trade & Enterprise.
His other affiliations included: Chairman of the Confederation of Garments Exporters of the Philippines, Inc (CONGEP), Vice-Chairman of the Philippine Exporters Confederation (PHILEXPORT), Member of the Execom of the Export Development Council (EDC) and a Co-Champion of the National Competitiveness Council (NCC) for Education and Human Resource.
He previously served as Commissioner of Social Security System (SSS) in 2001-2010, and Director of the Philippine Long Distance Telephone Company (PLDT).
Tribute to Donald G. Dee
An outpouring of tribute in honor of Donald G. Dee was made in the social and traditional media, not to mention in eulogies delivered, following his demise.
A sampling of these tribute, coming from friends, associates, colleagues, labor leaders, and unknown individuals, is printed below:
“He was with the service contracting industry and helped us rationalize the existence for it, up to his last breath. He believed in the existence of our industry and everything emanated from there. You will be truly missed, Mr. Dee.” – Mr. Butch Guerrero, Immediate Past President of PALSCON
“We’ll miss another resource person at Tapatan sa Aristocrat and Wednesday Roundtable @ Lido.” – Melo Acuna, CBCP
“Farewell to one of our social partners.” – Julius Cainglet, FFW
“Men like Donald Dee will always be remembered for the legacy they left behind.” – Ms. Viray De Leon Victori
“He is a selfless man and works for what should be. I surely will miss working with him from our SSS days as part of the Commission and of course as part of ECOP.” – Fe T. Palileo
“My sincere condolences to Donald Dee’s family and ECOP for the loss of such outstanding leader, who has led ECOP to the next level in representing and contributing to the business community and the development and growth of the Philippines.” – Miaw Tiang
“Mula sa mga manggagawang Pilipino at ang kani-kanilang pamilya, kami ay nakikiramay sa pagkawala ni Mr. Dee. Salamat Mr. Dee sa iyong araw-araw na pakikibaka na dapat kasama ang mga mangagawa sa pag unlad ng negosyo. God bless your soul and God bless your hope and your aspirations for workers and their families. Saludo po kami sa iyong kabutihang puso.” – Alan Tanjusay, TUCP
“Great personality!! He was very clear on his mind and knew where he wanted his organization to go.” – Khalid Hassan, ILO Manila – Country Director
“I would always look back and remember that under your leadership, the partnership of ECOP with DOLE on the agenda of decent work for all and industrial peace based on social justice, was robust and dynamic. Thank you for trusting tripartism and social dialogue as effective institutions in policy and decision making on labor and employment.” – Rosalinda Baldoz, Former DOLE Secretary
“As the former Employers’ Activities Specialist with the ILO, I remember Mr. Dee well when I worked closely with ECOP. May his personal and professional families take solace in knowing he is nestled in God’s caring arms.” – Luesette S. Howell
“The Federation of Free Workers extends its deepest condolences to his family and the members of the ECOP. Donald was a passionate leader of the employers but at the same time with a kind heart to the workers. Donald was a colleague at the SSS. I was representing the workers’ group and he was for the employers’.” – Sonny Matula, FFW
“Tears, sobs and realizations sank in during the Eulogy. Many were blessed to have met you for you have served your purpose and our nation very well. As your son stated, you have set a standard that is too high for any one of us to achieve. And halfway through yours will already be an accomplishment for most of us. The Business community mourns the loss of an exemplary leader and Champion.” – Michelle Lucas, ECOP Rizal
“Rest in Peace Comm. Donald G. Dee. It was my pleasure to be your staff in SSS. Thank you for the opportunity.” – Liza Angeles Cinco
“We lost a good man. I loved Mr. Dee’s insights, pragmatism and humor.” – Jane Ramos
“UNFPA extends its deepest condolences to the family of Ambassador Dee and to his ECOP family for his passing. Mr. Dee was a staunch supporter of RH. His passing is a big loss to the RH community.” – Vic Jurlano
“I met Tito Donald as our presiding elder of Pagibig sa Diyos Catholic community in the mid 80s. I had the chance to meet him again as an industry and business leader years later. Eternal rest grant unto him O Lord and let perpetual light shine upon him. May he rest in peace.” – Barbie Atienza
“Farewell to a champion and friend. You are now our voice in heaven.” – Roland Pacis, Visayan Forum
“Our deepest sympathy to the families , friends and associates for the lost of one of the greatest pillars in the business industry. May he Rest In Peace in the hands of our dear lord Jesus Christ.,” – Roger Perez
“Sir, I’ll never forget those times you’d always look for me and you’d always catch me with something in my mouth (Id always tell colleagues “Hala baka isipin ni Sir kain lang ginagawa ko sa office!), and then one day you just said “Can you stop eating for a while”….that time when I prepared a document for you and then asked everyone in the office while holding the paper on one hand and pointing to it using the other “WHO WROTE THIS?”. ‘Di ko alam kung aamin ako o hindi, but I was relieved when you said “It’s good, I liked it.” Sa loob loob ko, Sir tinakot mo nanaman ako….that time when I just got married and some of the bosses were teasing me about having a baby soon. Of course gusto ko na agad magka-baby, and then you passed by our cubicle and asked ke in front of everyone “Bakit, mag-aanak ka na ba?” And sa panic ko I just replied with so much conviction “‘Di pa po, Sir!”…that NCE when we had the President’s Forum, with the rest of ECOP’s past presidents. You werent comfortable at first on the format, but you still gave me a chance and gave it a go. That is by far my most favorite NCE panel discussion in my entire career….and that other NCE (only my colleagues would now). Hehe. Marami kang “terrorist” moves sa akin, Sir. Always nginig when you’re around. But I always looked up to you, Sir. Your intelligence is admirable, your standards impeccable. You always keep me on my toes. Thank you, Sir, for the trust and confidence, for the two years that you were President, for sharing with us your vision. We, at ECOP, will definitely continue the work you have started. You will be missed, Sir.” – Jelermina Abigail Roxas, ECOP Research and Advocacy Manager
“I would like to extend my sincerest condolences for the passing of Mr. Donald Dee.
I have appreciated Mr. Dee’s solid engagement with the Delegation of the European Union to the Philippines for the advancement of common interests between the EU and the Philippines.
He was indeed a champion and a leader of the Philippine business community. His leadership in the Employers Confederation of the Philippines and the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry was a testament of his steadfast passion to serve.” – Franz Jessen, Ambassador/Head of Delegation, European Union Delegation to the Philippines
“It was with great sadness, I received the information that ECOP President Mr. Donald G. Dee has passed away on the 1st of December 2018.
On behalf of the LO/FTF Council I wish to convey my deepest condolence to ECOP for this loss.
It was a great pleasure to have met him and to have collaborated with him.
I furthermore wish to extend my deepest condolence and sympathy to his family and his loved ones during this time of grief.” – Joergen Assens, Head of Programme Department, LO/FTF Council
