By Vanne Elaine Terrazola and Argyll Geducos
Senators have expressed grief over the death of former actor and senator Ramon B. Revilla Sr., who passed away due to heart failure on Friday afternoon.
“I share he grief of the family of my good friend and former colleague, former Sen. Ramon Revilla Sr., ‘Don Ramon’ to many of us, on his passing... The pain of losing someone we love leaves a deep hole in our hearts which no one can ever replace,” Senate President Vicente Sotto III said in a statement on Friday night.
Sotto worked with Revilla from the 9th Congress, in 1992, until the 12th Congress, in 2004.
“Don Ramon had a kind and good heart. His love for the masses and his deep concern for the welfare of our underprivileged brothers and sisters was an inspiring light that laid down the parameters of authentic public service. He has taught me that public adulation is not and should never be used as a benchmark for who and what a true public servant is,” the Senate chief said.
“As our nation mourns his passing, may his family be comforted with the fact that their patriarch was well loved by the people. Thank you for the friendship and the lessons, Don Ramon. May your soul rest in eternal peace,” he added.
Senate Majority Leader Juan Miguel Zubiri also paid tribute to Revilla’s work both in the entertainment industry and legislation.
“Ramon Revilla had such a profound influence on this country – as an actor, as a producer, as a politician. He did it all, and he did it all well. His films entertained and shaped generation upon generation of Filipino audiences. As an actor, he was so good in making us believe in his characters’ outsize strength and invincibility that I can hardly believe that he’s gone,” Zubiri said in a separate statement.
“What was truly remarkable about him was that his real-life work easily overshadowed the heroics of his film roles. He was a hero both on and off screen. He was such a hardworking and committed public servant, and he championed some vital measures that really put the country on track to development,” he added.
Zubiri also cited Revilla as the “Father of the Public Works Act” for his authorship of Republic Act 8150.
Senators Sherwin Gatchalian, Joel Villanueva, and Sonny Angara, in separate tweets, also extended their sympathies to Revilla’s family.
Communication Secretary Martin Andanar said the contributions in film and politics of the late senator will be remembered as he mourned the passing of the original owner of the “Agimat.”
“We extend our deepest condolences to Senator Bong Revilla and the entire Revilla family for the passing of former Senator Ramon Revilla Sr. at the age of 93,” Andanar said in a statement.
“Our thoughts and prayers go out to the whole family. And we pray for the eternal repose of the soul of their patriarch,” he added.
Andanar described the late icon as a pillar of the Philippine movie industry and the Father of the Public Works Act.
“His contributions will be remembered by people as among those who paved the way for movie and public works industries’ continued growth and development,” he said.
Presidential spokesman Harry Roque offered Malacañang’s sympathies.
“We share the grief of the Revilla clan and as tributes pour to honor the life and legacy of this respected movie icon and public servant, we pray that the Almighty grant Mr. Revilla eternal repose,” Roque said.
Revilla, 93, succumbed to heart failure at about 5:20 p.m. of June 26. His son and namesake, incumbent Sen. Ramon “Bong” Revilla Jr. broke the news in a short Facebook video.
“Wala na po ang tatay ko (My father is gone), please pray for him,” Bong announced as he and his relatives wept.
Revilla Sr., known as “Hari ng mga Agimat” or the King of Amulets in Philippine showbiz, first suffered a stroke and underwent angioplasty in 2008.
He entered politics in 1992 after winning a Senate seat. His two terms ended in 2004.