MANILA, Philippines – Antonio L. Tiu, President and CEO of AgriNurture Inc. (ANI), is the alleged “dummy” of Vice President Jejomar Binay in the ownership of the Sunchamp Agri-Industry Park in Rosario, Batangas, tagged by media as Binay’s 350-hectare hacienda.
Trillanes said that he has documents to prove that Binay, and not Tiu, was the true owner of Sunchamp Agri-Industry Park.
Tiu said he would appear at the Senate to clear his name.
Question is, can Tiu afford “Hacienda Binay”?
Who was Tiu before all these?
Rising from debt
Antonio Tiu. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO
Instead of inheriting a fortune associated with rich Chinese-Filipino families, Antonio L. Tiu inherited debt.
His father left them a P10 million debt when the family patriarch died while Tiu was still an undergraduate BS Commerce student at the De La Salle University.
Shortly after graduation in 1996, Tiu ventured into selling post-harvest equipment. In 1997, he founded AgriNurture, Inc. which first sold agricultural equipment then expanded to distribution of fresh produce and manufacturing of agricultural food products.
Tiu’s net worth is now pegged at P3 billion, earning it before he turned 37-years-old.
Exporter, supplier of fruits and vegetables in PH
AgriNurture Inc. is the first agricultural company listed in the Philippine Stock Exchange and the biggest mango exporter and supplier of vegetables and fruits in the country. ANI supplies fruits and vegetables such as mango, banana, sweet pineapple and papaya to customers in Japan, Korea, China, Europe, North America and the Middle East.
Aside from distribution of fresh produce, Tiu is also behind various products and brands such as FCA (Fresh Choice Always), Superfresh, Big Chill, Cafeteria Verde, Fresh Bar by Big Chill, and C’Verde by Big Chill.
He also brought the Tully’s coffee shop brand to the country.
One of 10 Young Outstanding Men in 2011
Tiu was cited as one of Ten Young Outstanding Men (TOYM) in 2011 for agribusiness. Aside from the TOYM award, he was also awarded by Go Negosyo as one of its 15 Young StarPreneurs in the same year.
Staunch supporter of Sports
In 2013, Tiu led the 89-member Philippine delegation in the 27th Summer Universiade in Kazan, Russia. His company, ANI, has been a long-time sponsor of the Federation of School Sports Association of the Philippines (FESSAP).
During the event, chess grandmaster Wesley So won the gold medal, a first for the Philippines.
ANI also supported the campaign of the Philippine team in the Street Child World Cup in Rio last March.
‘Hacienda Binay’
The 350-hectare Sunchamp Agri-Industry Park in Rosario, Batangas was opened by Tiu in 2014 with the aim of “helping local farmers earn more while educating visitors on the different stages of food production.”
Trillanes even attended the launch of the agri-tourism park.
Source: Inquirer archives, ANI website, Antonio Tiu’s personal blog
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