Sen. Edgardo J. Angara: statesman, great patriot, educator, legislator
Former Senate President Edgardo Angara passed away Sunday morning due to “an apparent heart attack.” He was 83.
His son, Senator Juan Ed-
gardo “Sonny” Angara, on Twitter announced the passing of the former Senate president.
“Sad to say my father, former Sen. Edgardo Javier Angara, passed on from this life this morning at the age of 83, from an apparent heart attack,” he said in his post Sunday afternoon.
The former senator wrote a regular column, “More vital than ever,” for the Manila Bulletin. His last piece, which was published Sunday (May 13), tackled “All the President’s men.”
Further details of the passing have yet to be disclosed, but initial information received by Senate reporters said the elder Angara suffered heart attack in his farm in Nasugbu, Batangas.
He was reportedly taken to Tagaytay Medical Center.
Sen. Sonny said their family is still finalizing the funeral arrangements for the late statesman. Meanwhile, he asked for prayers for his father.
“We are still arranging funeral arrangements for my father but will keep everyone posted, too. We ask for prayers for the repose of his soul,” Angara also tweeted.
In his personal Facebook account, the young senator also wrote: “We will miss him so much.” He likewise posted photos of his father on Instagram.
Sympathies Following the report, sympathies and condolences poured in for the former Senate president's family, including those from Angara's colleagues in the Upper Chamber.
“Nakakalungkot na balita, seatmate @sonnyangara (Sen. Sonny Angara). Praying for your Dad and your family. Please accept our deepest condolences,” Sen. Nancy Binay wrote on Twitter.
Sen. Cynthia Villar, for her part, also posted, “Our family's sincerest condolences, Sen. Sonny Angara. We pray for the eternal repose of the soul of your father, Sen. Edgardo Angara.”
Sen. Joel Villanueva, meanwhile, expressed his praises for the late senator, whom he said was his “mentor and inspiration.”
“President Edgardo Angara was a notable man who pushed for landmark legislations on education, healthcare, agriculture, and social welfare. His legacy will be forever carried on through the lives of our countrymen,” he said in a statement.
“(He) was my biggest mentor and inspiration since I joined public service. He treated me like his own son. I am out of words to adequately express the sorrow I feel at this moment,” he added.
“My thoughts and prayers are with my brother Sen. Sonny Angara and his entire family during this extremely difficult time. Rest in peace, SEJA (Sen. Eduardo Angara),” he said.
“We lost a great man, a visionary, an indefatigable worker, a brilliant mind, an esteemed public servant. Ed Angara is much respected and loved by Filipinos. Rest In Peace, Ed,” Sen. Loren Legarda said.
Sen. Juan Miguel Zubiri, likewise, expressed his grief over the death of former Sen. Angara, recalling the lessons he learned from his "adopted father."
“I'm so sad to hear the passing of the county's great Statesman Sen. Edgardo Angara. He was an Educator, Legislator, Senate President, and possibly one of the best Presidents we could have had,” Zubiri said in a text message to reporters.
“I'm sad as he was my adopted Father and mentor in the Senate and almost everything i know about legislating in the Upper Chamber came from (former) Sen. Angara. He taught me to focus on the important pieces of legislation that would make the most impact for the country rather than picking fights and taking on controversies,” he added.
Zubiri said the late Angara was “one of the most intelligent people” he has worked with, adding that “he made the most impact in my career in the Senate.”
“Today is truly a sad day for the Philippine Senate and I am honored to have had a chance to have served with such a distinguished Public Servant,” he added.
Public service
Former Sen. Angara, born September 24, 1934, spent most of his life in public service, having served in the legislative and executive branches.
He first served as senator from 1987 to 1992. In 1993, he became the 16th Senate President of the Philippines, which he held until he resigned in 1995 and was then elected as the new minority leader of the Senate.
He was known for his advocacies in education, economy, health, as well as in agriculture.
Angara pushed for laws that created the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) and the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA).
He also authored the Free High School Act, which ensured secondary education to serve especially the poorest; and the Government Assistance to Students and Teachers in Private Education (GASTPE), the biggest scholarship program of the government.
He also authored the Procurement Reform Act, as well as the father of the Ombudsman Law.
Also among his landmark measures were: the Senior Citizens Act; the National Health Insurance Act, which created the Philippine Health Insurance Corp or PhilHealth; the Magna Carta for Public Health Workers; the National Museum Act; and the National Commission on Culture and the Arts.
He also pushed for the approval of the Agriculture and Fisheries Modernization Act, which assured farmers and fisher folk of improved seeds and plant materials, better irrigation, better financing and market access.
After his three terms in Senate, Angara was appointed by former President Joseph Ejericto Estrada as Secretary of Agriculture from 1999 to 2001. He also served as Estrada's Executive Secretary for a brief period before the former president was ousted from office.
Angara was called the “longestserving senator in the post-EDSA revolution” after he was re-elected to a fourth term in Senate in 2007.
This time, he worked in tandem with his son Sonny, who was then representing Aurora, in crafting laws.
They authored the Republic Act No. 9490 which created the Aurora Special Economic Zone Authority (ASEZA), which was tasked to administer the economic zone in Barangay Motiong, Casiguran, Aurora. Later on, Republic Act No. 10083 was enacted which amended the ASEZA to the current Aurora Pacific Economic Zone and Freeport Authority or APECO.
The University of the Philippines gave Angara its most-distinguished Alumnus Award in 1981. He was also conferred with the Highest Professional Award by the UP College of Law.
In the same year, he was elected President of the UP.
In May, 2017, President Duterte appointed Angara as special envoy to the European Union (EU).
Great patriot
Meanwhile, the head of the European Union (EU) mission to the Philippines expressed its sadness over the passing of former Senator Edgardo Angara.
“I am saddened to hear that Senator Ed Angara, a statesman and a good friend, has passed away. My thoughts and prayers are with his family,” EU Ambassador Franz Jessen said in a message sent to journalists.
Jessen described Angara as a “great patriot and a true friend of the EU.” (With a report from Roy C. Mabasa)