The people of Negros Occidental mourn the passing of former governor Daniel “Bitay” Lacson Jr., Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson said on Saturday.
Lacson, 77, peacefully passed away at his home in Bacolod City at 9:05 p.m. Friday, Sept. 6.
He was governor of Negros Occidental from 1986 to 1992, and also served as chairman of the Philippine National Bank (PNB) and the Government Service Insurance System (GSIS).
The Philippine flag will fly at half-mast at the provincial Capitol in Bacolod City in honor of the former governor starting Monday.
The Negros Occidental provincial government is also honoring Lacson with a mass and program at the Capitol Social Hall at 10 a.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 10.
“We are deeply grateful to Gov. Bitay Lacson for the life he devoted to public service. The Province of Negros Occidental has lost a brilliant and well-loved leader,” Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson said.
“We will always remember his vision for the mini Taiwan development framework for Negros Occidental. As the Philippines enters the Christmas season, we fondly recall the Star of Hope that Gov. Bitay initiated, bringing new meaning to the traditional parol,” he added.
“His committed and impassioned dedication to service will remain as an inspiration to everyone,” the governor said of his uncle.
“We lost a true public servant of Negros. His life is worth emulating by younger generations,” Bacolod Mayor Alfredo Abelardo Benitez said on Friday.
Benitez said the former governor was a dedicated public servant, who leaves behind a legacy of leadership and service.
“I was deeply saddened to hear about the passing of former Governor Daniel “Bitay” Lacson Jr. His dedication to the people of Negros Occidental and his unwavering commitment to public service have left a profound impact on our community,” Iloilo City Mayor Jerry Treñas said.
PIED PIPER
Edith Villanueva, H.O.P.E. Volunteers Foundation Inc. chairperson, said “it was that tumultuous time in 1986 right after EDSA when Bitay was OIC Governor”.
“He was our Pied Piper who rallied the private sector into contributing their time, talent and treasure into rebuilding Negros Occidental,” she said.
Thus H.O.P.E. Volunteers Foundation was born with Bitay Lacson and Bishop Antonio Y. Fortich as their leaders, to be a bridge between government and civil society, Villanueva said.
“Its primary purpose was to act as a clearing house for civic volunteers’ tasks and responsibilities and also a channel for donated funds and resources for nation-building and rehabilitation,” Villanueva said.
“H.O.P.E stood for Humanity, Opportunity, Productivity, and Education and to this day, its flagship project of providing free reconstructive surgeries for harelip and cleft palate patients represents Bitay’s clarion call of volunteering for love of country and fellowmen. His vision of helping Negros will forever live in our hearts,” Villanueva said.
“His vision for the province as being progressively diversified and self-sustaining was grand and exciting and his dynamic leadership inspiring and infectious,” Jeanette Concepcion Patindol, writer and educator, wrote.
“Without his knowing it, he shaped my own ideals, zeal for service, and love for our people, too. In my own volunteerism and development work engagements later in life, I carried his brand of leadership as a template,” she said.
“I did not see him as a ‘politician’ but as a statesman. This, after growing up in a dictatorship and seeing politicians only as scoundrels,” Patindol added.
Lacson’s wake is at the Acropolis Gardens in Barangay Bata, Bacolod City.
Masses are scheduled at 5 p.m. on Monday and Tuesday at the Acropolis Gardens. There will also be an 8 a.m. mass on Wednesday at the Carmelite Monastery Church.*