ILOILO CITY — Former Mayor Myrna Causing-Tupas, the matriarch of the Tupas political clan of Iloilo province, has died at the age of 77.

THE late Iloilo Gov. Niel Tupas Sr. and his wife Myrna Causing-Tupas.
In separate Facebook posts, the politician-children of Causing-Tupas confirmed that she died past 8 a.m. on April 30 from an illness.
“Though we are saddened by your passing, we take comfort in knowing that you are now at peace, embraced by the eternal light of our Creator,” said Iloilo fifth district Rep. Raul “Boboy” Tupas.
Her death was also confirmed by former Iloilo Rep. Niel “Junjun” Tupas Jr. and former Iloilo City Councilor Nielex “Lex” Tupas.
Causing-Tupas was a fixture in Iloilo’s political landscape for around 50 years.
She was married to the late Iloilo Gov. Niel Tupas Sr., who served for three consecutive terms from 2001 to 2010. The former governor died in 2015.
Causing-Tupas came from a political family herself and served as mayor of Barotac Viejo town.
Her other sons Niel “Beng” Tupas III, Nielo “Bongbong” Tupas, and Nielito Tupas were also elected officials, either as mayor of Barotac Viejo or serving in the Iloilo Provincial Board.
Last year, her only daughter Nielette “Tweety” Tupas-Balleza, also died from cancer.