ILOILO CITY – Former Iloilo Vice Gov. Demetrio “Demy” P. Sonza passed away on Monday, January 22. He was 89.
His death two months before his 90th birth anniversary on March 3 was confirmed to Manila Bulletin by his younger brother Ed.
PHOTO shows Sonza in April 2017 when he released a book on two World War II Filipino soldiers from Iloilo. (Tara Yap)
“The departure of (former vice governor) marks a significant loss. We share in the collective grief felt by the province of Iloilo,” said Iloilo Gov. Arthur “Toto” Defensor Jr.
Sonza was elected vice governor in 1995 and 1998.
He was also elected as a member of the Iloilo Provincial Board in 1988 and 1992. He was again elected for three consecutive terms from 2010 to 2019 after which he retired from politics.
Outside of politics, Sonza was known as a historian and writer.
His best known work is "Mightier than the Sword," the biography of Iloilo’s foremost hero Graciano Lopez Jaena that was first published in 1964.
Sonza also wrote "Sugar is Sweet," which was published by the then National Historical Institute in 1977. The book outlines the role of Nicholas Loney, the British known for pushing the country’s sugar industry in the latter part of the Spanish colonial period and modernizing the port in Iloilo.
In 2017, Sonza released the book "Two Most Highly Decorated Filipino Soldiers in World War II: Jose C. Calugas and Ramon S. Subejano of Iloilo."
Sonza wrote essays and poetry and shared them on his Facebook account.
Before his death, Sonza was chairman of the Dr. Graciano Lopez Jaena Foundation Inc.
“Vice Gov. Sonza’s contributions, both as a dedicated public servant and a noted historian, have left an enduring legacy that has greatly enriched the cultural and historical fabric of our province. His commitment to preserving our heritage and his selfless service will be remembered for generations to come,” added Defensor.