A LEGACY OF FAITH

The Jimenez family's deep faith empowers them to embrace challenges with unwavering strength and confidence, leaving them resilient and inspired

- By Chit Lijauco Photography by Wesley Villarica

Even with the slow walk of a nonagenarian, media mogul Menardo Jimenez, Sr, looks every inch a man of importance.

With measured steps, he makes his way towards The Gallery on the 30th floor of the Menarco Tower, a dream realised for him by one of his children. Well-wishers disrupt every step. He meets their quick and simple greetings with a smile and twinkle in his eyes. The elegant and gracious Carolina "Kay" Gozon, his wife of more than 60 years, helps her husband accept the outpouring of felicitations, also intended for her. He may be retired, but the name Menardo Jimenez, Sr, or Nards, still carries a significant weight for many in business and industry circles. As one of a triumvirate that transformed a fledgling television station in the Sixties into the top broadcast network it is today, this giant of a man continues to enjoy the esteem and respect accorded to an incredibly accomplished gentleman. His business acumen and strategic vision have not only shaped the media landscape but also inspired many aspiring entrepreneurs.

Menardo's early years were a testament to his resilience. He faced challenges that would test and strengthen his character. The harsh realities of war during the Japanese occupation only served to hone his resilience and resourcefulness. His entrepreneurial spirit was evident even at a young age. As the son of the town mayor, he looked for opportunities to earn additional allowance, he fixed an old bike, bought used comic books and rented them out to the town.

The lessons from those difficult years were not in vain for Menardo; instead, they primed him for a better future. "Accounting gave me the foundation," the CPA and commerce graduate tells Tatler. "It taught me discipline, attention to detail and how to understand numbers. However, I always had the drive to go beyond the desk—to take risks and create something of my own. Business gave me that chance. And with hard work, things grew from there."