By Cyrus A. Natividad

Sonza holds his Pinoy Icon Award in 2011.

On Monday January 22, 2024 former Iloilo Vice Governor Demetrio P. Sonza passed away at the age of 89. He would have turned 90 years old on March 23. Sonza was a native of Sta. Barbara, Iloilo.

Fondly called “Tay Demit “or “Nong Demy” by his friends and associates, he was a Centralian journalist; a historical writer. He wrote poems and essays as well. Sonza was an exemplary public servant with a heart and humble character. He responded to the needs of his constituents and had left a legacy of service to them.

Iloilo Gov. Arthur “Toto” Defensor Jr. said that “The departure of our former vice governor, marks a significant loss. We share in the collective grief felt by the province of Iloilo.”
Sonza was Vice Governor of the province of Iloilo from July 1, 1995 to June 30, 1998 and from July 1, 1998 until June 30, 2001. In 1988 and 1992, he was elected Board Member of the 2nd District of Iloilo Province. Again he was elected for three consecutive terms as Board Member from 2010 to 2019, before his retirement from politics. He also served as a member of the CPU Corporation from 1994-1999; 2003-2008; 2008-2013; 2013-2018.

Iloilo’s foremost hero Graciano Lopez Jaena’s biography entitled “Mightier than the Sword,” was known to be one of Sonza’s best works which was first published in 1964. He also wrote “Sugar is Sweet,” which was published by the National Historical Institute in 1977, and in 2017, his book entitled “Two Most Highly Decorated Filipino Soldiers in World War II: Jose C. Calugas and Ramon S. Subejano of Iloilo” was published.

Sonza was chairman of the Dr. Graciano Lopez Jaena Foundation. Sonza has authored and published books in, history, biography and hundreds of articles. He presented scholarly papers in several national and international conferences. In 1999, Sonza received a Gold Medallion Gawad Centenario award from the Philippine Centennial Commission.

Sonza was married to Gloria Sazon Jayaon. They had one daughter.