THE funeral of former Gingoog City Mayor Marie de Lara Guingona will be held at 1 pm on June 20 at Heritage Memorial Park in Taguig City, her mother, former Misamis Oriental governor and three-term city mayor Ruthie de Lara Guingona, announced.
Guingona, whose full name is Stella Marie de Lara Guingona, died Monday morning, June 16, at St. Luke’s Medical Center in Taguig, where she was brought the night before. She was the daughter of former Vice President Teofisto Guingona.
Local leaders from Misamis Oriental paid tribute and expressed condolences following her passing.
Incoming 1st District Rep. Karen Lagbas mourned her death in a message sent to this paper.
“I mourn the death of our friend, Mayor Marie,” she said.
Lagbas recalled Guingona’s commitment to public service, especially during the most recent election campaign. Despite battling illness, Guingona remained active, returning home to show her support for the people of Gingoog.
In a March 3 post on her official Facebook page, Guingona disclosed that she had been diagnosed with colon cancer.
“Isip pag lantaw sa kaayuhan sa iyang palanggang katawhan, naningkamot siya nga makakuyog niadtong milabay nga kampanya para sa Bangon Gingoog-on. Sayod kami nga malipayon ang iyang pagtaliwan apan ang kaanugon ug kamingaw sa iyang pagkawala magpabilin kanatong tanan,” Lagbas said.
She added, “We celebrate the life of a remarkable public servant. We mourn her passing and will cherish her legacy — a great friend and a kind and strong woman.”
Rep. Yevgeny Vincente ‘Bambi’ Emano of the 2nd District also expressed his condolences via Facebook, saying, “Ang Padayon Pilipino kinasingkasing nagpahasubo sa pamilya og sa minahal sa kinabuhi ni Mayor Marie de Lara Guingona, kinsa miduyog na sa atung magbubuhat.”
Gingoog Mayor Erick Cañosa also paid tribute: “We extend our sincerest condolences and prayers to the entire de Lara-Guingona families during this time of profound loss. May they find comfort in the outpouring of love and gratitude from a community deeply touched by her leadership and kindness.”
Incoming Misamis Oriental Governor Juliette Uy said Guingona’s death is a significant loss. “It is undeniable that with her great contributions to Gingoog City, your legacy will always remain in our hearts,” she said in a statement published by the Philippine News Agency.
Guingona served as mayor of Gingoog City from 2013 to 2019. She ran for vice mayor in the 2019 midterm elections but lost to now-outgoing Governor Peter Unabia.
