Statement of Sen. Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan, president of the Liberal Party of the Philippines, on centennial birthday of Jovito Salonga
Ka Jovy represents the enduring LP tradition of service and love of country: Pangilinan
“A century ago today, the true patriot and statesman Ka Jovy Salonga was born.
We are blessed to have lived in his time — including the years he served as leader of the Liberal Party — guided by his wisdom, selflessness, and love for country.
Ka Jovy has endured many battles that maimed his body, but not his spirit. He has confronted the plagues of dictatorship, corruption, and economic crisis, and he carried on.
How fascinating it would have been if the gentle sage and fighter that is Ka Jovy were here, amid a pandemic endangering the people’s health and livelihood, and an anti-terrorism bill threatening their rights.
Birthdays are for celebration of life, struggles, and triumphs. We are grateful for the encounters and lessons we had with Ka Jovy in his lifetime. We are fired up to carry his work forward.”
“Isang siglo nang nakakaraan ngayon, ipinanganak si Ka Jovy Salonga, isang tunay na makabayan at kapita-pitagang pinuno.
Pinagpala tayo na nakasalamuha natin siya sa kanyang panahon — kabilang ang mga taong nagsilbi siya bilang pinuno ng Partido Liberal — na ginabayan niya ng kanyang dunong, pagkamapagkaloob, at pagmamahal sa bayan.
Maraming tiniis na laban si Ka Jovy na puminsala sa kanyang katawan, pero hindi ang kanyang lakas ng loob. Kinaharap niya ang salot ng diktadurya, katiwalian, at krisis pang-ekonomiya, at nagpatuloy pa rin siya.
Kamangha-mangha kung ang magiliw na pantas at mandirigma na si Ka Jovy ay narito, sa gitna ng isang pandemya na nilalagay sa panganib ang kalusugan at kabuhayan ng taong-bayan, at isang anti-terrorism bill na nagbabanta sa kanilang mga karapatan.
Ang mga kaarawan ay para sa pagdiriwang ng buhay, mga pagbabaka, at tagumpay. Nagpapasalamat tayo para sa mga tagpo at aral na napulot natin kay Ka Jovy sa tanang buhay niya. Lalong lumalakas ang loob nating isulong ang kanyang mga nasimulan.”