MANILA, Philippines — Senator Richard Gordon was overwhelmed with emotion after his colleagues gave speeches about his brother, former Congressman and Mayor James “Bong” Gordon Jr.
During Wednesday’s plenary session, the Senate adopted Senate Resolution No. 643 expressing the chamber’s “profound sympathy and sincere condolences” on the death of the former lawmaker and long-time mayor of Olongapo City.
READ: Ex-Olongapo mayor Gordon dies of cardiac arrest
“I would just like to thank everybody especially Migz (Senate Majority Leader Juan Miguel Zubiri) and Sen. [Joel] Villanueva and all of you…for remembering my brother thank you, thank you very much…my family, thank you,” said Gordon, who did his best to contain his emotions.
Zubiri and Villanueva earlier each paid tribute to Gordon’s late brother.
“He was a natural leader who learned the ropes from his family of public service particularly his parents,” Zubiri said.
Gordon represented the first district of Zambales in the House of Representatives from 1995 to 2004 and then served as a three-term mayor of Olongapo City from 2004 to 2013 “ably maintaining the Gordon legacy of urban management and top notch peace and order ratings for the city,” according to the majority leader.
“He also dedicated himself to disaster response, prioritizing olongapo city’s disaster preparedness response and recovery practices and to guard against many calamities that threaten the hazard-prone city,” Zubiri said.
“His passing is a great loss for Olongapo City and the country,” he added.
Zubiri also described Gordon as a “lovely” and “happy spirit” with a “talent and infectious passion for music.
“I will always fondly remember him as Cong. Bong, my classmate in Congress from 1998 all the way to 2004…We use to gather together to sing songs and he created the group called ‘House Boys’ and I was one of the members of that group,” he said.
“It’s a singing group that he formed in congress, we spent hours practicing and singing Beatles songs with Congressman Bong,” he added.
Villanueva, who had also previously served in the House of Representatives, lauded Bong Gordon for his integrity.
“Congressman Bong Gordon is a very nice and amiable gentleman, he served his people with integrity and competence. We will miss him and we pray for the Gordon family,” he said.
In a tweet earlier Wednesday, Senator Gordon said the passing of his brother “totally shattered” him.
I lost my only brother Bong today, and I am totally shattered.
Bong and I grew up together and followed the same path of public service. I served as Mayor of Olongapo, and he would run as Congressman. pic.twitter.com/jKFsErY4z9
— Richard J. Gordon (@DickGordonDG) February 9, 2021
“Even in his youth, Bong was a dedicated servant-leader who became class president. His strength and fortitude extended to his days as a Subic Bay volunteer, as a city councilor, as a congressman, and ultimately as mayor of Olongapo,” he said.
“He was always kind, but he stood firm to serve Olongapo well. He was a gentle younger brother whom I loved dearly,” he added.