ILOILO – Former Iloilo vice governor Demetrio “Demy” Sonza passed away on Monday morning, Jan. 22, his family confirmed.
Sonza, also a former 2nd District Board member, would have turned 90 years old on March 23. He was from Santa Barbara town.
As of this writing, the Sonza family has yet to release an official statement as to the circumstances of his death.
Sonza served as vice governor from July 1, 1995 to June 30, 1998 and from July 1, 1998 until June 30, 2001.
He was also a Provincial Board member from 1988 to 1995 and from 2010 to 2019.
Gov. Arthur Defensor Jr. expressed sadness over the passing of Sonza.
“It is with profound sorrow that I convey my deepest condolences to the family, friends, and the entire community on the passing of former Vice Governor Demy Sonza. His departure marks a significant loss, and we share in the collective grief felt by the Province of Iloilo,” read part of Defensor’s message.
The governor said the former vice governor’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, he said.
“As we come to terms with this profound loss, it is particularly poignant to note that Vice Governor Sonza would have celebrated his 90th birthday on March 3, 2024. This makes his passing even more bittersweet, as we reflect on the remarkable life he led and the milestones he could have reached,” Defensor added.
With this, Defensor encouraged Ilonggos that “during this difficult time, let us join together in honoring Vice Governor Demy Sonza’s memory and legacy. May his family find strength and solace in the outpouring of love and support from our community.”
Vice Gov. Christine Garin has also conveyed condolences to the bereaved Sonza family.
Nereo Lujan, head of Iloilo provincial government’s Public Information and Community Affairs Office, expressed sadness in his Facebook post on Monday morning.
“I am saddened by the passing this morning of a very good friend and historian, former Vice Gov. Demy P Sonza. He would have turned 90 this coming March 3,” Lujan said.
He added that Sonza’s passion for history enriched our understanding of the past.
“In gratitude for his scholarly contributions, may his memory be a beacon guiding us through the corridors of time,” he said.
Sonza was a great Ilonggo historian, orator, columnist, author, public servant, and philanthropist.
He has authored a collection of poems, biographies and various books on history including “Mightier than the Sword: Biography of Graciano Lopez-Jaena,” “Sugar is Sweet: The Story of Nicholas Loney,” “Visayan Fighters for Freedom,” and “Adriano Hernandez: A Hero in War and in Peace.”
He was also the chair of the Dr. Graciano Lopez Jaena Foundation.
Sonza has authored 13 published books in essay, poetry, history and biography; several pamphlets, and hundreds of articles. He has presented scholarly papers in several national and international conferences. In 1999 he received the Gold Medallion Gawad Centenario from the Philippine Centennial Commission.
He was married to Gloria Sazon Jayaon with whom he has one daughter./PN
