At
one time, he also served as a temporary staff member of
the Chinese Christian Gospel Church. He sent himself through
school, first to the Nan Yang High School, and later to
the National Radio Academy at Raon St., where he spent many
long nights after work learning the skills of a radio technician.
His love for sports also began early in life, when the Philippines
hosted the 10th Far East Asian Games in 1934. Disappointed
to see Chinese athletes losing to competitors from neighboring
countries, he decided to do something about it on a personal
level. He became an excellent athlete himself, eventually
representing the Filipino-Chinese community in track and
field at the 7th Chinese National Games held in Shanghai,
China in 1948. on a higher level, he and his friends set
up the Kiong Hun Athletes Association in 1934 to promote
sports development within larger Chinese community.
He
maintained his commitment to youth and sports development
throughout the rest of his life. He became a patron of
the track and field movement expending much of his own
time and money to work with young men and women who wished
to develop their skills on the field. When the Philippines
was drawn into the Pacific war, Mr. Cao Pek did not sit
idly by. He joined the Ex-cowhm Guerilla unit to resist
the Japanese invasion. When his elder brother was captured
by the Japanese army, he surrendered himself to gain his
brother’s freedom. He was later released by the
Japanese in awe of his courage in the face of death.
After the war, Mr. Cao Pek put together what little savings
he had to buy military surplus equipment. He put all his
skills as a radio technician to good use by repairing
and reassembling these equipments for eventual resale
at a good profit. At 30 years old, Mr. Cao Pek, with only
P300.00 as capital, created the Deeco Electronics Manufacturing
on February 2, 1948. thru sheer hard work, self abstinence,
perseverance, talent and entrepreneurial spirit, he grew
from his humble beginnings to become one of the largest
manufacturers and suppliers of electronics of electronics
and communications components in the country. With wife,
Elena Dy, they steered their company to greater accomplishments,
yet continuing their simple and frugal lives.
Along
the years, DEECO embarked on the assembly and manufacture
of Transformers, Battery Chargers, Welding Transformers,
and public Address Systems. To meet the increasing demand
in the telecommunications industry, Single Side Band (SSB)
transceivers and Telephone Switching Systems were also
added to its product line. From the manufacturing and
retailing telecommunications equipment, DEECO branched
out the sale of home appliances.
In
1960, DEECO started over-the-counter sale of all its products.
A five-storey building in the heart of Manila now houses
the DEECO executive offices. Branches were later set up
in Cubao, Quezon City, and Makati. So as not to lose its
initial commitment, a Telecommunications Division was
set up in 1973, its sole purpose to cater the needs of
the telecommunication community.
To
date, over 80 Commercial Radio Stations, and 12 Telephone
Exchanges are operating with equipments supplied by DEECO.
Behind this wide range of broadcast and telecommunications
equipment are fully established enterprises Deeco Electronics
Manufacturing, and Dee Hwa Liong Electronics Equipment
Corporation.
In
1938, with the company in the competent hands of his sons
and daughter, Mr. Cao Pek “resigned” from
active participation in DEECO’s affairs and devoted
his full time to his philanthropic work. He took over
the Principalship of the 200-student Cheng Kuang School
and transformed it into the 1000-student Cheng Kuang High
School, with two new 3-storey building erected under his
supervision. Mr. Cao Pek’s public spirit also evident
in the outlying provinces around the Metro Manila where
he donated School Buildings thru his active participa
in the Filipino-Chinese Chamber of Commerce various activities.
Mr.
Cao Pek’s untimely death on June 29, 1992 in the
hands of his kidnappers was a big loss, not only to the
business community, but to the education and sports community
as well.