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Philippines' oldest stockbroker dies at age 103

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ABS-CBN News

<div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img src="https://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2017/business/02/27/022717-alejandro.jpg"/><figcaption>Alejandro T. De Castro of A.T. Securities Corp. (Screengrab)</figcaption></figure></div>MANILA -- The Philippines&#x27; oldest stockbroker has died at the age of 103.Alejandro T. De Castro of A.T. Securities Corp., one of the founders of the Makati Stock Exchange, died on July 13, the Philippine Stock Exchange (PSE) said in a paid ad published in a newspaper on Thursday.An ABS-CBN source said De Castro died of old age on Monday night after saying evening prayers.De Castro, also known as &quot;Tito Alex,&quot; <a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/video/life/02/27/17/oldest-pse-trader-celebrates-100th-birthday">celebrated his 100th birthday</a> at the PSE last February 2017. He was born in Iba, Zambales in 1917.He was the oldest member of the PSE. He founded A.T. Securities Corp. back in the 1960s when the Philippines&#x27; population was only around 30 million.<figure class="op-interactive"><iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/qGwC871pI5k?enablejsapi=1"></iframe></figure><div class="iwantbar">Watch more in <a href="//www.iwantv.com.ph/">iWantv</a> or <a href="//tfc.tv/">TFC.tv</a></div>In an interview in 2017, he was asked what advice he would give to investors and he said:&quot;What I can advise is they should love their country in the first place and they should love the people because the biggest capital in the world is the country and the people. Monetary capital is easy, it can be lost, it can be earned, but people, you could not lose them,&quot; he said. &quot;They should always remember that we are all born the same.&quot;In an <a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/business/10/13/16/meet-pses-99-year-old-stock-broker">interview with radio DZMM</a> back in 2016, De Castro said his long life was due partly to a healthy diet of &quot;malunggay, inihaw na talong, niligang okra, and talbos ng kamote,&quot; and to being close to God.&quot;Nung pinanganak tayo, binigyan tayo ng Panginoong Diyos ng wireless connection para gamitin mo kung kailangan mo siya…Telebabad ako, wala akong ginawa kundi [kausapin ang] Diyos,&quot; he said.(When we were born, God gave us a wireless connection to use if we need to talk to Him. I do nothing else except talk to God.)De Castro also kept his mind busy by constantly monitoring business news and current events on TV and on his iPhone 6.<ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/life/10/14/16/what-is-99-year-old-stock-brokers-secret-to-long-life">What is 99-year-old stock broker&#x27;s secret to long life?</a></li></ul>His daughter, Caress Banzon, said his father never retired.&quot;Hinding-hindi siya nag-retire. Father ko, ipinanganak siyang mahirap, at nagtrabaho pa siya dati as janitor. Hindi ko ma-imagine na hihinto siyang magtrabaho,&quot; she said in an interview also in 2016.(He never retired. My father, he was born poor and he even worked as a janitor. I can never imagine him not working.)De Castro also learned to use the latest gadgets in his work with the help of his young friends and family members.&quot;Naging mas madali ang buhay niya. Sa iPhone niya, mayroon siyang Bloomberg, kung anu-anong app. Pini-press lang niya &#x27;pag may gusto siyang malaman. Sa TV din, malaking tulong sa kanya ang ANC, kasi may ticker sa ibaba. Kailangan niya sa trabaho niya iyon,&quot; Banzon said.(The gadgets help make his life easier. On his iPhone, he has Bloomberg and other apps. He just presses them to get information. As for TV, ANC is a big help to him because of its ticker at the bottom. He needs that for his work.)&quot;He is so happy that he is able to do many things, kaya araw-araw para siyang excited mabuhay (so every day, he&#x27;s excited to be alive).&quot;&quot;Sabi [ng tatay ko], ang puso niya ay laging tumitibok kasi inaalagaan niya ang pera ng mga tao. (My father says, his heart always beats because he takes care of other people&#x27;s money.) &#x27;My job is my exercise because in the stock exchange you are always tense,&#x27;&quot; Banzon said of her father&#x27;s favorite joke regarding his job.&quot;Napakagaling ng outlook niya. Kahit mahirap ang buhay, lagi siyang positive, palatawa, walang problema na makakapatay ng kanyang spirit,&quot; she added.(His outlook is so positive. Even if life is hard, he stays positive, he jokes, there is no problem that kills his spirit.)De Castro also found a passion for painting. SM Aura held an exhibit of his works in June 2017 during his centenary. According to SM Supermalls, the one-man show in time for Father&#x27;s Day was to celebrate a &quot;life well-lived&quot; and to &quot;give back to a world that has been good to him and his family.&quot;De Castro worked as a janitor/clerk at the National City Bank in Escolta during the 1930s. In World War 2, he joined the guerrillas until liberation in 1946.In the late 1950s, he pursued a career in banking. De Castro joined the Manila Stock Exchange as a trader and, in 1963, he co-founded the Makati Stock Exchange.&quot;At 100, although he remains to keep himself updated with the Philippine economy, the market indices around the world, and with current events, Alex considers himself a more successful family man. Happily married to his wife, Salud Donato, for 60 years, together they have 5 children, 18 grandchildren, and 2 great granddaughters,&quot; SM Supermalls said in its press release for the one-man show. -- with a report from Mimi Ong, ABS-CBN News

Alejandro T. De Castro of A.T. Securities Corp., one of the founders of the Makati Stock Exchange, died of old age on July 13.

Alejandro T. De Castro of A.T. Securities Corp., one of the founders of the Makati Stock Exchange, died of old age on July 13.