Family members, relatives, and friends pay their last respects to the late industrialist and NAMFREL founder Jose Concepcion Jr., during the Requiem Mass at the Santuario De San Antonio Parish in Forbes Park, Makati, on March 11, 2024. Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News

MANILA -- National Citizens' Movement for Free Elections (NAMFREL) founder Jose Concepcion, Jr., also known as Joecon, was laid to rest in Taguig City on Monday.

Family and loved ones honored the late industrialist and patriot’s life in a requiem mass.

In a eulogy, one of Joecon’s sons John Concepcion looked back on his father’s work with NAMFREL in ensuring clean elections.

“During those days, I accompanied my dad to many NAMFREL hotspots. One memory that stands out, a volunteer was gunned down protecting ballots in a remote province. Feeling anxious as we made our way to this remote province, our only protection was a foreign press sign on our vehicle. I observed my dad comforting the family of the fallen volunteer. This showed be his profound bravery and humanity,” the younger Concepcion said.

Joecon was a delegate to the 1971 Constitution and was detained during the martial law era.

“My dad is my hero. I’ve learned the values of hard work, integrity, and honestly through my dad… When I was 10 years old, I saw my dad stand for what is right even if it meant going to jail. Watching my dad get arrested is a memory I can’t erase,” John said. 

Being a former trade secretary and a business icon in the country, his family shared of his vision for regional cooperation that could open a bigger market for the country and generate more jobs.

Archbishop Socrates Villegas commended Concepcion for his genuine love for God and country.

“Thank you for showing us that the 10 Commandments, the beatitudes of Jesus Christ are livable in business, in economics, in politics,” Villegas said.

Tourism Secretary Christina Frasco and former Cabinet member Ernesto Ordoñez joined the family during the requiem mass.