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Colleagues pay tribute to Charlie

admin March 23, 2022

SP PASS RESOLUTION OF CONDOLENCES

STALWARTS of the Nationalist Peoples Coalition [NPC] paid tribute to the late Tarlac first district Congressman Carlos “Charlie” Oppen Cojuangco in a necrological services held at the Minor Basilica of the National Shrine of Our Lady of Mount Carmel church located at the Cojuangco family-owned Ermita estate at Matalapitap, Paniqui, Tarlac, February 27.

Cojuangco’s colleagues at the House of Representatives Secretary General Mark Llandro “Dong” Mendoza, Rizal 1^st district Congressman Michael John “Jack” Duavit, Tarlac 3^rd district Congressman Noel Villanueva and former Pangasinan 5^th district Representative and Cojuangco’s elder brother Mark delivered their eulogies.

“Sa mga kasamahan natin po sa Tarlac, sana po lagi nating isa-puso at ilagay sa ating isipan ang ala-ala at nagawa ni Boss Charlie dito po sa lalawigan ng Tarlac…tuloy-tuloy po nating itaguyod ang mga nasimulan po mula kay Boss Danding, Boss Charlie at ngayon po kay Congressman Jaime,” Mendoza said.

“Napaka masayahing tao ni Charlie at di nagtatanim ng galit…Our heartfelt condolences and sympathies. Charlie is one of a kind, we will miss you forever and thank you for being our friend,” said Duavit.

“Nakahanda na po ang Tarlac sa kanyang paglilingkod sa 2025 bilang ating punong lalawigan. Wala pong di nalungkot sa mga Tarlaqueño sa paglisan ni Congressman Charlie sa mundong ito…di makakalimutan yung kanyang magandang kalooban, yung kanyan passion para manilbihan sa ating mga kababayan. Paalam Cong. Charlie, di ka namin makakalimutan,” Villanueva uttered.

For his part, Mark Cojuangco reminisced the good deeds of his brother and his love for his family and wife.

“Napa-iksi ng buhay ng aking kapatid na si Charlie. Hindi po laging naging okay ang aming samahan ngunit lagi kapag kailangan ko ng masandalan, si Charlie ang aking naaasahan. Ang dami nya pong plano sa kanyang distrito at para sa buong probinsiya…ako po ay nagpapasalamat kay China dahil nanduon po mula’t-mula ang kanyang kasiyahan. Thank you for that China. Mahal kita Charlie, I will do my utmost to be here for your family and your loved ones,” said Mark Cojuangco.

SP Resolution

After the eulogy, the Sangguniang Panlalawigan [SP] headed by Vice Governor and Presiding Officer Carlito David, together with Governor Susan Yap presented to the Cojuangco family Resolution Number 051-2022 entitled “A Resolution Expressing the Province’ Deepest Sympathies and Condolences to the Bereaved Family of First District Representative Carlos O. Cojuangco.”

Cojuangco’s wife China Jocson-Cojuangco, his children Claudia and Jaime and brother Mark received the resolution.

“May we remember him as a great statesman, a dear friend, a man of truth, a loving husband and father. We ask our fellow Tarlaqueños to continuously pray for the repose of the soul of Congressman Charlie Cojuangco,” Yap said in a statement.

Family’s Response

Cojuangco’s son, Jaime read the family’s response and thanked all those who prayed and expressed their sympathies and condolences to their family.

“Those gestures have made our grief and loss less painful. My dad’s passing is especially heartbreaking to me and my sister. We have lost both our parents whom we have loved so much and have not fully enjoyed their loving and caring presence. But who am I to question God’s purpose for all the pain that we are feeling now. I know in my heart that both of them had a life well-lived and they are now back to their real home,” said Jaime.

Jaime also said that he will continue what his father had done for the first district of Tarlac.

“Now, I feel the personal obligation to carry-on what my father left me to do, to fulfill what he has promised, to pursue his dreams for the first district of Tarlac. I will not disappoint him and I will continue to do what he has started. He shall be my inspiration to carry on and continue what he had left us…I love you. Look down on me and manang and guide us,” he said between sobs.

Before the necrological services, a Holy Mass officiated by Tarlac Bishop Enrique Macaraeg and Tarlac Bishop Emeritus Florentino Cinense was offered.

Arvin F. M. Cabalu