A beloved friend and leader,  Gil P. Cua, 55,  succumbed to liver cancer on December 17, 2008.  A sudden departure for us. Though he had bouts of sickness the past months, he was diagnosed of cancer only last month.  The whole network and our DHRRA leaders mourn his death and extends prayers for his wife, Ping, and children Leslie, Gerard, and Carmela, and the rest of the family.  He will be intered on the 22nd, in Cagayan de Oro, Mindanao.

Gil, representing PhilDHRRA, was Chairperson of AsiaDHRRA from 1998-2002.  He championed the major thrust, during his term of office, of building a strong alliance of farmers’ organizations in the region and the strengthening of AsiaDHRRA as a regional network.  Gil actively encouraged and dialogued with our DHRRA leaders to strengthen their respective DHRRAs to make AsiaDHRRA a strong network.  Together with the collective leadership in AsiaDHRRA,  Gil brought new level of dynamism in the network and helped anchor its work based on a clear and long term development framework and strategy.

Gil directly involved himself in the process of AFA building, from contact building to sustained relations with leaders of Farmers Organizations deemed potential for the regional farmers’ platform.  He was with us in the Farmers’ Exchange Visit (FEV) in Suwon, Korea in 1999 where the farmer-leader participants  firmed up their commitment to unite as a regional alliance.  He was present in most of the FEVs.  Gil gracefully ended his Chairpersonship, with the formal launching of AFA,  in May 2002 in Kuala Lumpur.

We, in the Secretariat, deeply mourn his passing.  He was a bundle of energy, new ideas, and joy for us.  Gil gave us the love, support, and respect which kept us as passionate as he was in the aspirations of the DHRRA family for the rural poor.  We will miss Gil very much.  His surprise visits to our office  and constant support on everything.  We will always remember his words — that our inspiration in what we do should always be the rural poor.

I will personally deeply mourn the passing away of a friend, partner and mentor.

Gil is now in God’s loving hands.  Let’s pray for the repose of his soul.

Our kind wishes to everyone,
Marlene D. Ramirez
AsiadDHRRA Secretary General