Sulpicio gone; owners change name

CEBU CITY—Technically, Sulpicio Lines Inc. ceased to exist after it changed its name.

The owner and operator of the ill-fated MV Doña Paz is now known as Philippine Span Asia Carrier Corp.

According to records at the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), the company changed its name through a resolution adopted on Dec. 19, 2009, by a majority vote of the members of the board of directors and stockholders.

On April 20, 2010, the SEC approved the articles of incorporation that amended Article 1 that stated the change of Sulpicio Lines’ name to Philippine Span Asia Carrier Corp., which would be doing business under the name of Span Asia Carrier.

A director’s certificate dated Dec. 29, 2009, detailing the approval of the name change and submitted to the SEC carried the signatures of Enrique S. Go, Eusebio S. Go, Victoriano S. Go, Dominador S. Go, Ricardo S. Go and Edward S. Go.

But the amended articles of incorporation did not reflect any reason for the change of corporate name.

In an interview with Cebu Daily News in March 2010, Harold Go, company vice president, said the change of name was the management’s way of starting anew for the company after it suffered major loss with the sinking of the MV Princess of the Stars at the height of Typhoon “Frank” on June 21, 2008.