Pedro Generalao, educator, Iligan ex-vice mayor; 89

MANILA, Philippines–Pedro Generalao, former vice mayor of Iligan City, died at the Mindanao Sanitarium and Hospital in Iligan City on Aug. 20 due to acute respiratory failure after complications from a congestive heart. He was 89.

Generalao was popularly known as Sir Generalao for being an educator for over 40 years. He had taught since the 1950s hundreds of Iliganons at the Wilson College, St. Columbian’s Academy, La Salle Academy and Iligan City High School. He was also the principal of Iligan City High School (later renamed as Iligan City National High School) for 21 years.

He was a two-term councilor and vice mayor of the city and continuing his advocacy for universal education, he was credited with the growth not only of the city’s public high school but also with the establishment of barangay (village) high schools.

Civic, religious leader 

He was also a civic and religious leader in the Legion of Mary, Philippine National Red Cross and Brotherhood of Christian Businessmen and Professionals. He was president of Rotary Club of Iligan South and grand knight of the Knight of Columbus.

He is survived by his wife, Petra, and children Minerva (the Inquirer Research chief), Venus and Ramon Curva, Flora, Antoinette and Undo Manzo, Pedro Jr. and Marian, Felixberto, and Simon and Katy (two sons, Miguel and Jesus Marcelo, preceded him in death); grandchildren Carlo and Amanda and Cristy Ione Curva, Hazel Mae, Mark and Amira Generalao, Adrian and Cathy, Arianne and Andrew Manzo, Karl Simon, Kyros, Karnela and Kian Generalao; and great grandchildren, Cameron, Christian and Caiden Curva and Alexander Christoff Manzo.

His body lies at the Maria Christina Chapel of Cosmopolitan Funeral Homes (near Gaisano Mall). Burial will be at the Maria Christian Gardens (Pryce) Wedbesday after the 9 a.m. Mass at the St. Michael’s Cathedral.