“HE has returned to God.”
These words were spoken by Fr. Dan Delos Angeles to comfort the grieving family of Cebu Gov. Gregorio Sanchez Jr. who passed away due to stage 4 lung cancer at the Chong Hua Hospital last Friday.
In a requiem Mass delivered at Sanchez’s wake at the Crystal Palace of the Cosmopolitan Funeral Homes in Lahug, Cebu City, Fr. delos Angeles told the family that God didn’t allow the vice governor to suffer his illness any longer.
“Dili ta maka-question kung kuhaon na ta sa Ginoo (We never question when God takes us away),” Delos Angeles said in his homily.
He also recounted the vice governor’s works of charity and reminded public officials in attendance to do likewise.
The Mass sponsored by the Cebu chapter of the Liberal Party (LP) was attended by some party members led by its provincial chairman, lawyer Junjun Davide.
Bogo City Mayor Celestino “Junie” Martinez, Provincial Board (PB) member Arleigh Sitoy, Mandaue City Mayor Jonas Cortes, Consolacion Mayor Teresa Alegado and Cordova Mayor Adelino Sitoy were some of the LP members present in last Saturday’s requiem Mass.
Also in attendance were former PB member Victoria Corominas, former senator John Henry “Sonny” Osmena, Rep. Luigi Quisumbing of Cebu’s 6th district and PB Member Joven Mondigo Jr.
Davide said the party expressed its condolences to the Sanchez family and asked Cebuanos to pray for the vice governor and his family. He recalled last seeing the vice governor in February before he left for treatment in Manila.
“He was still upbeat and we talked for a few minutes,” Davide said.
At 1 p.m today, the Josenian Engineers Alumni Inc (JEA) will be sponsoring a separate Mass to pay tribute to the vice governor.
Sanchez, a graduate of the University of San Jose- Recoletos (USJ-R) was awarded the Most Outstanding Alumni in 2003.
As a civil engineer, he started in the construction business and reaped awards for his contributions to business.