Gov. Arthur Yap, Vice Gov. Rene Relampagos and Cong. Edgar Chatto each paid tribute to Boholano former University of the Philippines (UP) president Dr. Jose “Pepe” Abueva who died on Aug. 18, 2021.
Yap expressed his condolences during the virtual press conference on Aug. 20, 2021.
He asked for a moment of silence for a prayer for the eternal repose of Abueva’s soul.
On the other hand, Relampagos also paid his tribute to Abueva.
He called the former UP president, who hailed from Duero town, an influential person in the country in the fields of education, development, and peace studies.
Abueva died in his home at Beverly Hills, Antipolo, Rizal, at the age of 93, according to Abueva’s daughter Rossana in a post on Wednesday.
In a post on Aug. 19, 2021, Relampagos wrote, “Yesterday, [Aug. 18, 2021] we lost Dr. Jose Abueva, a brilliant Boholano political scientist and public administration scholar who excelled in the fields of education, development, and peace studies. Dr. Pepe, as he is fondly called, traces his humble beginnings from Duero. Despite the hardships that he and his siblings, including National Artist Napoleon Abueva, he has risen to the ranks and is an embodiment of the Boholano’s brilliance, resilience, and grit. This is worthy of emulation and a source of inspiration for all. Dr. Pepe has always extended himself in helping push Bohol towards growth and development. His inputs have greatly contributed to the development our island province enjoys and his immeasurable contributions would forever be remembered.”
In separate press statement, Chatto said that with Abueva’s death, Bohol lost an outstanding son.
According to Chatto, Abueva was part of the UP Advisory Council formed during Chatto’s stint as governor.
The council, composed of Boholano experts in various fields, helped the former governor now first district congressman guide Bohol’s programs for growth and development.
As member of the UP Advisory Council, Abueva was instrumental in major developments in Bohol such as the Bohol Panglao International Airport, the ongoing construction of the Cortes Campus of the Governor Celestino Gallares Hospital, and in socio-economic programs and projects, which Chatto regularly presented to the advisory body.
Abueva is survived by his children: Lanelle, Jobert, Rossana and Jonas; grandchildren and in laws: Majalya and Peter, Celine and Gordon, Joshua, Jerone, Julia, Jasmine, James, Juliana, Jonah; his great grandchild: Memphis and loving extended family’s partners.
Abueva was a Professor Emeritus of Political Science & Public Administration at the UP where he served as the 16th U.P. President from 1987 to 1993 and UP Diliman chancellor from 1990 to 1991.
He was former President/Founder of Kalayaan College, and Director of its Institute for Federal-Parliamentary Democracy, and Institute for a Nonkilling Philippines.
His service to the nation includes stints as secretary of the 1971 Constitutional Convention, executive director of the Legislative-Executive Local Government Reform Commission, and chairman of the Legislative-Executive Military Bases Council from 1989 to 1990 that worked on the conversion of US military bases. He was also the chairperson of the Consultative Constitutional Commission during the presidency of Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo in 2005.
Abueva was also a visiting professor at Yale University and Brooklyn College of the City University of New York and guest lecturer at the University of Michigan, University of Hawaii, Kyoto University of Foreign Studies, City University of New York, Columbia University, and University of California, Berkeley among others, and also taught at the United Nations University in Tokyo, Japan, and worked for the Ford Foundation.
For his immense contributions in the academic field, Abueva was awarded numerous times including the Ten Outstanding Young Men (TOYM) in Political Science in 1962.