A full life

As Vice Gov. Gregorio Sanchez Jr. is laid to rest today, various officials have paid tribute to him and what he stood for that, in one way or another, helped shape the course of national and local politics.

Exactly one month after he arrived in Cebu, the vice governor succumbed to the stage 4 lung cancer that plagued him since late last year. The tell-tale signs were there—a special device, to allow him to speak and the long and unannounced absence that had not a few pundits wondering what was happening.

Not a few media outlets, including this corner, called on the vice governor’s family to disclose in full Sanchez’s actual state of health since he owed it to his constituents who, even if they cannot expect full assistance, have voted for him.

The disclosure came and confirmed all but the worst, but the family did leave out hope of his eventual recovery which is shared by the vice governor’s supporters and even his staunchest political opponents like Cebu Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia.

It is quite lamentable that local politics, to which Sanchez dedicated a good portion of his life, would somehow spoil whatever good memories Cebuanos have of the vice governor.

Nearing the end, his family ventilated his frustration over the expected curtailment of his authority and the budget to his office by Garcia. His death is also marked unfortunately by an election protest case that, in perspective, should have been confined to Sanchez’s successor Agnes Magpale and businessman Glenn Soco.

Everyone who knew Sanchez—both critics and supporters—has their own views about the vice governor both favorable and unfavorable but only insiders would probably appreciate his involvement in the opposition movement against the Marcos regime.

He built his fortune and knew an up-and-coming political candidate when he saw one after he agreed to align himself with former Cebu City councilor Hilario Davide III to run in the province backed by the Liberal Party (LP) of then Sen. Benigno Aquino III—a fact that President Aquino appreciated when he paid his respects to the Sanchez family last Thursday.

And perhaps there is no greater tribute to Sanchez than Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama’s announcement that he, as Regional Development Council (RDC) chairman, will pursue the trans-axial highway project that the vice governor pushed in the province but failed to get Capitol backing for.

These and other things the Sanchez family will carry with them for posterity as they are joined by others in mourning the vice governor’s death.

Sanchez may have not achieved his dream project, but he lived a full life and that in the end is what everyone could only hope for.