It is with deep sorrow that we bid farewell to my father, Atty. Wencelito Andanar, who succumbed to liver cancer this morning, 7:50 am, at the Veteran’s Memorial Medical Center.
My father was the greatest man and mentor I have ever known. He was my idol and I looked up to him, so much, that he inspired me to join public service.
Papa was a man of service, having dedicated his professional years as a public servant within different government agencies. Over the course of his career, he was also the OIC Governor of Surigao del Norte from 1986 to 1988. Consequently, he served as the Chairman of the Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA) from 1982 to 1992. During the administration of President Corazon Aquino, he was appointed as Presidential Assistant from 1989 to 1992. He was also the Undersecretary of the Department of the Interior and Local Government from 2001 to 2007.
My father’s excellence in public service spanned many presidents. In 2018, he was appointed as the Special Envoy of President Rodrigo Duterte to Malaysia. And through his leadership took initiative to bridge the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao to the global market. Despite the pandemic, he was able to continue to work with the Malaysian government and assist in the repatriation efforts for overseas Filipinos.
I know I speak for many when I say that we have lost not just a remarkable civil servant but a pillar in our lives. He may no longer be with us, but his deeds and his legacy will continue to live on in our hearts.
Paalam, Papa! Thank you for being a brother, a father, a confidant, and a friend. You had a life well-lived. You are a lifelong example of leadership and selflessness. When I meet you in the sun, I shall tell you much.
