MANILA, Philippines (UPDATED) – Former and incumbent senators honored the life and work of the late Senate president Edgardo Angara, who died at the age of 83.

The Senate held a necrological service for its former member on Wednesday, May 16, which was attended by the late senator’s family, including his wife, Gloria Manalang-Angara, son Senator Juan Edgardo Angara, daughters, and granddaughters.

Senate President Aquilino Pimentel III also presented the family with a Senate Resolution recognizing Angara’s contribution to the chamber and to the country.

Several senators, including two past presidents, delivered their eulogies for their former colleague. 

Former Senate president Aquilino Pimentel Jr

It is said that power generally overwhelms the better instincts of man. Not the Ed Angara I knew. Despite the enormous powers that he had access to or that he enjoyed especially during the early Martial Law years, he remained a person with balanced human perspectives. For instance, he had perks to savor. But, he tried to share them with others less privileged.

That said, aside from the enumerable things that Ed has done for his friends, acquaintances and supporters, his whole-hearted dedication to the cause of education emerges as his unique contribution to the welfare of our people.

Taguig Representative Pia Cayetano

To the Angara family, Flipinos grieve because we have lost a humble and dedicated statesman, a great teacher, my teacher, and a visionary.

My family, we grieve with you: My mom Sandy, my brother Alan and I spent much time with him, Ren, his grandson, and Lino,who my father named after him. My brother’s name is Lino Edgardo. But know this, EJA, SEJA, PEJA, and the many ways he was known, Uncle Ed to me will live on throught the work we do.

Senate President Aquilino Pimentel III

Now let me address my colleagues in the Senate especially the younger ones, and there are many of them. More than half of the Senate is younger than me.

Senator Ed Angara’s achievements should inspire us in our works. We should all look up to him as a paragon of what a Senator of our Republic should be.

As a lawmaker, the laws he authored, sponsored or supported made a significant impact in the fields of education, health, social welfare, agriculture, good governance, energy, environment, and even cultural arts. Name it, and he had contributed to it.

Senator Edgardo J. Angara’s life on Earth was never idle. With a definitive sense of purpose, this man served his mission to the end, wasting no time. We will miss him but we will continue to be inspired by him.

Senator Loren Legarda

How do I even start honoring a man so accomplished on wide-ranging issues and advocacies? It seems there was no issue he did not know about. How do I choose the words to describe him and the life he lived? Even the best words would seem too humbling for someone so great.

It is not easy to eulogize, lest I miss out on so many accomplishments or even overshoot the time allotted to me, because there is just too much to say about a person whom I have known and become close to, both at work and on a personal basis. 

Ed was a statesman, embracing public service as a badge of honor. A visionary, he worked tirelessly so that national interest reigned paramount over parochial concerns.

No one can doubt his sincerity in the causes he had espoused; but one cannot resist the urge to smile or even laugh when he shows his wit.

Once, when I greeted him on his birthday, he replied: “Whose birthday? It’s been deleted for being overdue!”

Then one time, I got this message: “My food supply has dried up. The food chain has been interrupted.” Apparently, he was just asking me to send over paksiw na bangus, which is one of the dishes I share with friends and colleagues.

Ed had an interest in everything – from admiring a Dumagat baby to relishing baby lechon or cochinillo; from organizing community choirs and artists’ communes to collecting placemats, plates and towels, to discussing science and technology and constitutional issues.

For sure, he will be missed. His sudden departure leaves a gaping hole in his beloved Aurora, where his towering presence had served as a powerful inspiration to the young to pursue excellence as a way of life. On the national stage, his absence will be felt long after his body is laid to rest.

The passing of Ed marks the end of an era. But his legacy lives on. Ed, yours is a life well-lived. Thank you for your untiring service to our country. Rest now in peace.

Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon

We were not only fraternity brothers, we also worked together from ACCRA to the Senate and shared countless milestones….It was Ed who invited me to join ACCRA. He convinced me that since ACCRA was a new firm then, it would offer bigger opportunities for me….As Ed promised, working in ACCRA was indeed an excellent career move.

Our friendship transcended political colors and affiliations, even if sometimes, we found ourselves opposing each other and sitting in opposite political fences. Once he even tried to depose me as Senate President. But, the friendship remained.

Senator Juan Edgardo Angara delivered the family’s eulogy.

On behalf of our family, my mother Gloria; my sisters Anna, Katya, Alex; my wife Tootsy; my dad’s grandchildren Manolo, Ines, Javier and Finn, Joe; his siblings Congresswoman Bella, Mayor Arthur, his nephews and nieces, his former staff who he loved dearly. Kahit minumura po kayo, mahal po kayo. Kami din po – he was our biggest critic but he was also our greatest supporter. Ganoon po ang karinyo ng aking tatay. Alam ‘nyo po ‘yun.

Kulang po ang oras ngayong araw para pag-usapan ang lahat ng kanyang nailathalang batas, ikuwento ang lahat ng kuwento at banggitin ang lahat ng parangal na natanggap ng aking ama. History and the history writers will take care of that. What we request is that all of you here remember our father fondly as a reformer, as an institution builder, as a builder of dreams, an enabler of dreams, and an enabler of people.

My father is human like every else. And if he hurt any of you here, humihingi po kami ng paumanhin. As I said, he had a quick temper. It was never personal to him. It was always borne out of a strong will to get things done. Very impatient po ang aking father.

A man who loved his country and its people. A man who helped build a better nation for our children and future generations of Filipinos. To all of you, we thank you for sharing his life, his work, his dreams and aspirations for our country. Salamat po nang lubos. 

The former Senate president, who hails from Baler, Aurora, began his political career when he was elected in Quezon as a delegate to the 1971 Constitutional Convention.

Angara eventually became “the longest serving senator in the post-EDSA Senate,” states a brief biography sent to media by the office of his son. The late senator  served as Senate president from 1993 to 1995, during the administration of President Fidel Ramos.

He pushed for the passage of laws on the Free High School Act, Commission on Higher Education (CHED), Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA), the National Health Insurance Act (PhilHealth), Senior Citizens Act, the Agriculture and Fisheries Modernization Act (AFMA), the Renewable Energy Act, and the Procurement Reform Act.

He also authored the laws creating the National Museum and the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA), among others.

Prior to his death, he served as Special Envoy to the European Union. 

Angara’s interment has been moved to Tuesday, May 22, in Baler, Aurora, the office of Senator Sonny Angara announced on Friday. Public viewing in Baler starts Saturday, May 19. – Rappler.com