Mindanao mourns death of former MinDa chief Luwalhati Antonino

ILIGAN CITY—Advocates of Mindanao development are mourning the death on Monday of former Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA) chairperson Luwalhati Antonino.

She just turned 81 a week earlier.

Fondly called “Lu” by friends and colleagues, Antonino was the agency’s first woman chairperson, “steering it towards unrelenting service for Mindanao” from 2010 to 2016.

“She was one of Mindanao’s strongest allies and loudest voices in the national government,” read a statement from MinDA.

MinDA recalled how Antonino “rallied all Mindanao key government officials and business leaders to solve the Mindanao power crisis back in 2012, leading to the creation of the Mindanao Power Monitoring Committee.”

“She was also the woman behind the Mindanao Nurturing Our Waters (MindaNOW!) Program in response to the dwindling forest cover and frequent typhoons and flooding in Mindanao,” MinDA added.

“Through the Treevolution that she spearheaded along with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, Mindanao gained the Guinness World Record for Most Trees Planted within an hour,” it added.

As MinDA chairperson, Antonino is remembered for “personally lobbying for a fair and equitable budget share for Mindanao and MinDA’s programs and projects.”

“To have worked alongside her was to witness a masterclass in leadership imbued with compassion and humanity. Her words were not just directives; they were lessons in living and serving with dignity and integrity,” said MinDA deputy executive director Romeo Montenegro.

Prior to serving MinDA, Antonino represented South Cotabato in Congress for three terms, from 1992 to 2001.

She is the wife of former General Santos City mayor Adelbert Antonino, and mother of former South Cotabato Rep. Darlene Antonino-Custodio.

Although the Antoninos no longer sought elective office since 2013, they continue to be active in politics through local party Achievers with Integrity Movement (AIM).

“The City of General Santos mourns the death of one of its pillars, who had contributed a lot in all aspects of its development. Eternal repose unto your soul, Ma’am Lu. We will forever cherish you,” said a statement from city councilor Virgie Tiongson Llido, a stalwart of AIM.

Born in Upi town, now part of Maguindanao del Norte province, Antonino earned a chemical engineering degree from the University of Santo Tomas, and a graduate degree in business administration from the New York University. She used to work for the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development.

Antonino’s remains lie in wake at the Heritage Memorial Park in Taguig City. Her burial is set on Nov. 2.