HARI mourns passing of chairman Edward S. Go

Hyundai Asia Resources, Inc. (HARI), the official distributor of Hyundai vehicles in the country, announces with profound sorrow the passing of Chairman Edward S. Go. Chairman Go, a pillar and inspiring, well-loved figure of the company, joined his Creator last September 16, 2021.

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Counting over 40 years of management experience in the country’s top banking and finance institutions, he earned the respect and admiration of colleagues and employees alike for his integrity and professional brilliance.

Chairman Go consistently graduated at the top of his class at the Ateneo de Manila and generously put his talent and expertise at the service of the community. He sat in the board of numerous top corporations and actively supported the poverty alleviation programs of the Ateneo, chaired the NAMFREL, and spearheaded microfinance efforts. 

He was a moving spirit behind H.A.R.I. Foundation, Inc. (HFI), the corporate social responsibility arm of HARI. He helped forge the Foundation’s lasting alliances with Gawad Kalinga and the Ateneo, where the Hyundai Hall, the university’s main performance venue, now stands. It would have been named the Edward S. Go Hall, had he not humbly declined.

“He left us as quietly as he had lived,” said HARI President and CEO Ma. Fe Perez-Agudo. “We will never forget his unassuming presence in our many events. Be it a major one with Government and Hyundai Korea or a company Christmas party, he would be there, on time, humbly shunning the spotlight. Yet we all know that behind that modest facade was a Renaissance man, a great mind for business, and a big heart for the poor.”

Before his sudden passing, the Ateneo was preparing to honor him with the 2022 Lux in Domino Award for having embodied in an exemplary way the ideals of his alma mater. The award will be given posthumously.

“His actions and decisions are all marked by a quiet integrity and excellence which made him a sought-out member of the board of top corporations. A true patriot and son of Ignatius, he also placed his exceptional abilities in the service of civic and social development organizations, as well as the Ateneo de Manila, where he was a member of the Board of Trustees for 16 years and its Chair from 2010 to 2014,” said Ateneo President Roberto C Yap, SJ, in a public post from the university.

“We will miss his sharp business insights and dry sense of humor. He was always neat and dapper, and physically active. He never wanted to have a driver but preferred to drive himself and his wife around. We are indeed fortunate to have spent 20 fruitful years working and learning from him. Chairman Go left HARI a legacy of professional excellence, integrity, and humble service,” ended Ms. Agudo.

In lieu of flowers, cash donations may be made to the ACED Feeding program which Chairman Go actively supported: Ateneo Center for Educational Development’s (ACED) feeding program for underprivileged children https://www.ateneo.edu/socdev/aced  BPI account 3081-0006-29.