Palace condoles with Gokongwei family after widow Elizabeth's passing

Malacañang on Sunday condoled with the Gokongwei family after their mother Elizabeth, widow of tycoon John Gokongwei Jr., passed away.

"The Palace is saddened by the passing of Mrs. Elizabeth Gokongwei yesterday, November 16, just one week after the death of her husband, John," presidential spokesperson Salvador Panelo said in a statement.

Mrs. Gokongwei died on Saturday at the age of 85, exactly a week after her husband's demise.

"We express our deep condolences to — and relay our commiseration with — the family, particularly her children, Robina, Lance, Lisa, Faith, Hope and Marcia, friends, colleagues, employees, and loved ones, Mrs. Elizabeth left behind. May the perpetual light shine upon her, and may her soul, through the mercy of God, rest in eternal peace," Panelo said.

"A gentle, loving, kind, caring and selfless human being Mrs. Elizabeth was. She will be dearly missed," he added.

Panelo said Mrs. Gokongwei studied at St. Stephen's High School and finished medical technology at the Case Western Reserve University in Ohio.

She helped John Gokongwei realize his dream, Panelo said.

"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 fitted the bill. The Gokongwei matriarch was the other half who helped in realizing the vision and dream of one of the greatest business leaders of our time. 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 said.

"Mrs. Elizabeth, like Mr. John, was known for her philanthropy, being a member of the Board of Trustees of the Gokongwei Brothers Foundation. She was, in the words of only son, Lance, 'the heart and soul of the Gokongwei family,'" Panelo added.

The Gokongweis' business interests are in retail, airline, telecommunications, power generation, beverage, among others.

According to Panelo, Lance, president and CEO of JG Summit Holdings, Inc., also shared that their mother Elizabeth "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. She was the best kind of mother and wife and will be dearly missed. We are comforted knowing that my Mom and Dad are together again, watching over us from above."

In "Lessons from Dad," a book Lance wrote, he said their mother would tell them: "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."

Eldest daughter Robina Gokongwei-Pe, president and CEO of Robinsons Retail Holdings, Inc., described her mother as someone who "would always think about her family before she would think about herself," Panelo shared.

The family said the wake and funeral of their mother will be held privately. —KG, GMA News