MANILA, Philippines — Malacañang on Sunday mourned the passing of Elizabeth Gokongwei whom it described as the “other half who helped in realizing the vision and dream of one of the greatest business leaders of our time.”
The Gokongwei matriarch passed away on Saturday, a week after the death of her husband, John. She was 85.
READ: Gokongwei matriarch Elizabeth dies at 85
“A gentle, loving, kind, caring and selfless human being Mrs. Elizabeth was. She will be dearly missed,” Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo said in a statement.
“We remember a life advice of Mr. John: Marry a good person for a spouse as she would be an ally in happiness and not a source of misery. Elizabeth, his wife of 61 years, certainly fit the bill,” he added.
“She fully supported the conviction of the businessman who dared. She was the founding member of the Robinsons Department Store and headed its Merchandising Department from 1980 to 1992,” he further said.
Quoting Elizabeth’s son, Lance, Panelo said that she was “the heart and soul of the Gokongwei family.”
“Describing her mother, the Gokongwei heir added, ‘She was a wonderful wife, mother, grandmother, friend. She was an optimist. She always had a smile on her face, and looked at the brighter side of life’,’” Panelo said.
“In his book, ‘Lessons from Dad’, Lance wrote: ‘Mom always tells us,’ ‘Be yourselves. Don’t compare yourselves to others, because someone will always be smarter than you. Someone will always be looking or richer. So just go out there and be yourselves’,” the Palace official added.
Panelo also expressed deep condolences to the family and loved ones of the Gokongwei matriarch.
“May the perpetual light shine upon her, and may her soul, through the mercy of God, rest in eternal peace,” he added.