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The family and friends of philanthropist and Victoria Court motel chain owner Archimedes Rosario “Archie” King returned to Cuenca, Batangas to show gratitude to all the barangay officials and residents who helped King and his colleagues when their helicopter crashed in Mt. Maculot last July 5.
READ: The brave and honest men of Cuenca
Led by King’s younger brother, Wyden, the group personally thanked barangay officials, rescuers and residents who volunteered in helping the survivors in the fatal crash.
King, 62, and the pilot, Capt. Felicisimo Taborlupa Jr., died in the crash.
King’s wife, Lingling; former model Tina Ocampo and her husband, entrepreneur Rico Ocampo; Tatler Philippines editor-in-chief Anton San Diego; and Dunlop Tires president Christopher Chilip and his wife Patricia Chilip, survived the crash.
King’s group were en route to Manila from Puerto Galera in Mindoro when the Augusta 109E type chopper crashed around 12:45 p.m. last July 5.
Last weekend, Wyden, together with the Chilip and Ocampo couples and San Diego, returned to Barangay Pinagkaisahan and distributed eight complete sets of rescue suits, spine board, first aid kits and three units of handheld radio.
They also gave grocery items, rice and cash to selected rescuers.
Cuenca Mayor Celerio Endaya, likewise, awarded a plaque of recognition to Pinagkaisahan barangay captain Celestino Lunar and Cuenca chief of police Sr. Insp. Joel Bustamante Laraya for their prompt action on the incident.
Endaya also received one unit of ambulance from King’s group for their appreciation on the assistance extended to them by the local government unit.
King, heir of billionaire philanthropist Angelo King, chaired the Angelo King Foundation. The patriarch was hailed by Forbes magazine as among the most notable in the Asia-Pacific region for his generous contributions to charitable causes amounting to $515,000 in 2013.
King also shared much of his time and resources with the less fortunate, reaching out to 100 partners and beneficiary organizations.
Photo: Jose Enrique Soriano
Text: Arnell Ozaeta, ABS-CBN News Southern Tagalog
This article has been re-published with permission from ABS-CBNnews.com.
