The United States Embassy in Manila has praised former Filipino World War II veteran Enrique “Ike” Sobrepeña Jr. for his part in the liberation of Baguio from the clutches of the invading Japanese army.
Sobrepeña, who became known as the “alpha” of the pre-need industry in the Philippines, died on Monday, Nov. 23, 2020, at the age of 94.
On Saturday, several members of the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW)-Baguio Chapter joined in the farewell ceremony in honor of Sobrepeña with a 10 marine salute with a bugle in recognition of his service under the United States Forces in the Far East (USAFFE).
The ceremony was immediately preceded by the handling of the US flag to the family of the deceased war veteran.
The VFW of the United States is a nonprofit veterans service organization comprised of eligible veterans and military service members from the active, guard, and reserve forces.
A day after his death, a virtual memorial service in his honor was held under the auspices of the Bishop Sobrepeña Memorial Church (BSMC) of the United Church of Christ in the Philippines.
Former Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Rafael Seguis remembered Sobrepeña, or ‘Kabise’ to his close friends, as a “giving Christian” who always finds a special place in his heart to help the church where they both belong.
“Kabise was not only a gentleman par excellence, he was also a giving Christian. He regularly supported BSMC. He provided the church with a sizable donation to help acquire the air conditioning system for the Church to ensure the comfort of the congregation,” Seguis said in his eulogy.
A son of a protestant minister, Kabise was a successful insurance salesman who once headed one of the country’s largest memorial plans. At age 50, he shifted careers, went on his own, and introduced the pre-need plan business.
When funeral plans (memorial plans) were being conceptualized in the ‘60s, he was tasked by the Alfonso Yuchengo Group to organize the first memorial plan task force in the country. Thereafter, another company, the Pacific Memorial Plan group was created and he was handpicked to set up the new operation along with some Americans who were brought by in Yuchengco to help set up the pre-need group.
From thereon, Sobrepeña turned things around and presented the memorial plan in a revolutionary way -- something that one should have as a need to avoid the hassle when a close family member of the family should die.
It was also during those periods when Kabise would accompany his father in his travels around the country that he realized the importance of education and its multiplier effect on people to spur economic growth. It was from this conviction that the College Assurance Plan (CAP) concept was born.
Until his death, Sobrepeña was concurrently the president and chief executive officer of CAP Phils., CAP Life Insurance Corporation, CAP Technologies Corporation, Comprehensive Annuity Plans and Pension Corporation, CAP Realty, Inc., and CAP General Insurance Company.
He graduated with a Bachelor of Arts at Silliman University in 1949 and a Bachelor of Laws at the University of Manila in 1952 and was awarded with Doctor of Humanities, Honoris Causa by the latter school in 2001, and Doctor of Business Administration, Honoris Causa by the University of Baguio in 2002.
He is survived by his sons, Bob, Russel, and Jay, and their families, and his only brother, Dr. Dave.