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“A Loss Felt Deeply: Mar Roxas, Pepe, and Pilar Mourn the Passing of Beloved Grandmother Judy Araneta Roxas With Love, Grace, and Gratitude”

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1. A Nation’s Condolences for a Family’s Loss

In a somber time that has deeply touched many across the nation, former senator and statesman Mar Roxas, together with his wife Korina Sanchez-Roxas and their children Pepe and Pilar, are mourning the death of Judy Araneta Roxas, known fondly to family and friends as Lola Judy.

Her passing, though met with quiet reverence, has created an outpouring of support and remembrance. A woman of elegance, strength, and enduring influence, Lola Judy was more than just the matriarch of one of the Philippines’ most prominent families—she was the silent force behind generations of love, legacy, and leadership.

2. A Grandmother’s Role Beyond Generations

To Pepe and Pilar, still in the innocence of childhood, Lola Judy was a gentle hand, a loving hug, a familiar voice that told stories of family, home, and history. Though they are young, the bond they shared with their grandmother was strong and pure—formed in quiet moments of bedtime kisses, birthday gatherings, and stories told over merienda.

While the magnitude of their loss may take years to fully understand, they have already experienced the very essence of grief: the absence of someone whose presence was constant and comforting.

Through the guidance of their parents, they are learning what it means to love someone even after they are gone. Their grief is being met with tenderness, patience, and the understanding that love, once planted, never truly dies.

3. Mar Roxas: A Son Reflects

As a public figure who has long carried the weight of national responsibility, Mar Roxas is now experiencing the most personal kind of burden—a son’s sorrow.

His mother, Judy Araneta Roxas, was not only a key figure in his formative years but also a source of quiet strength during the most demanding periods of his political life. From childhood lessons to adult decisions, her presence shaped his values, his integrity, and his unwavering commitment to the Filipino people.

In a private statement shared by the family, Mar said:

“She lived not to be seen, but to serve. She gave her best to all of us—not in speeches, but in how she showed up every day. As her son, I carry her love in everything I do. And as a father, I hope to pass that love on to Pepe and Pilar.”

4. Judy Araneta Roxas: A Life Lived in Quiet Grace

Though she preferred a life away from the limelight, Judy Araneta Roxas lived a life of undeniable impact. She held leadership roles within the Araneta Group, played an integral role in civic and charitable efforts, and was known to be a steady, silent supporter of her family’s ambitions.

People close to her describe her as a woman of few but wise words, someone who led by example. She believed in tradition, education, and most of all—family.

Despite her stature, she was often seen at school events, quiet Masses, and simple family gatherings. In the grand halls of Araneta family history, she was a keeper of memories and a guardian of values.

5. Korina Sanchez-Roxas: A Tribute From the Heart

Veteran broadcaster and proud mother Korina Sanchez-Roxas shared a touching tribute to her mother-in-law:

“She was the kind of woman who didn’t raise her voice, but when she spoke, everyone listened. She was generous with her time and her love. And as a grandmother to my children, she was endlessly present.”

Korina also reflected on the quiet example Lola Judy set—not just for the family, but for all women who believe in the strength of compassion, the power of presence, and the beauty of a well-lived life.

6. The Wake: Remembering, Not Just Mourning

The wake for Lola Judy was as elegant and heartfelt as the woman herself. Simple, beautiful, and deeply respectful, it was held in a space filled with fresh white flowers, soft piano music, and photo memories from every chapter of her life.

Guests who came—family, friends, and former colleagues—did not just speak of loss. They spoke of love, legacy, and the light she brought to those around her.

Many commented that while her passing was heartbreaking, it was also a moment to celebrate a life of deep meaning, lived with no need for headlines or accolades.

7. A Legacy That Lives On

Lola Judy’s legacy lives on not in wealth or recognition, but in the values she passed on—discipline, loyalty, humility, and quiet strength.

To her grandchildren, she leaves a model of womanhood that goes beyond beauty or success: a model of character, calm, and care. To her son, she leaves a compass of principles that have guided him through the highs and lows of public service.

Her passing reminds us that the strongest people are often the ones who do not demand attention—but rather, give it freely to others.

8. Pepe and Pilar: Lessons in Loss and Love

For Pepe and Pilar, this moment marks a tender first experience with grief. But they are surrounded by love—parents who explain with softness, memories that are kept alive with intention, and a family that speaks about Lola not as someone gone, but as someone forever with them.

They are learning that love doesn’t disappear; it transforms. That the stories of their grandmother will continue to be told, that her voice can still be heard in the way their father speaks, and her spirit still felt in the way their mother loves.

9. Public Support: A Nation Mourns With Them

While the Roxas family grieves privately, the public has joined them in honoring Lola Judy’s life. On social media, messages of condolence came in from public figures, media personalities, former colleagues, and everyday citizens.

One tribute read:

“She may have lived quietly, but her influence echoes loudly in the goodness of the family she raised.”

Indeed, the strength of Mar Roxas, the warmth of Korina, and the kindness of their children all point back to the values rooted in Lola Judy’s legacy.

10. Faith and Family: Anchors in the Storm

As with many Filipino families, faith is central to the grieving process. The Roxas family has turned to prayer, scripture, and moments of reflection to anchor themselves through the storm of loss.

Daily rosaries, quiet evenings, and candlelight vigils are part of their way of saying goodbye—not only with tears, but with thanksgiving for a life that brought so much love.

11. Moving Forward Without Forgetting

In the coming weeks, the Roxas family will return to routines—school, work, service. But there is an unspoken understanding that nothing will be the same. And yet, in many ways, everything Lola Judy stood for will continue through them.

Pepe and Pilar will go on to build lives of their own. But they will carry their grandmother in how they treat others, in how they speak with respect, and how they choose family above all.

Mar and Korina, in turn, will pass on the lessons of grace, loyalty, and quiet courage. Because that is how Judy would have wanted it: not in sadness, but in strength.

12. Final Thoughts: A Quiet Goodbye, A Loud Love

Losing a grandmother is never easy. It is the loss of stories, smells, soft hands, and safe arms. But for the Roxas family, it is also the continuation of everything that made Lola Judy special.

In every prayer, in every framed photograph, in every meal cooked with care, and every child tucked in at night, she is still there—smiling, guiding, and loving from a place just beyond.

And in that way, this is not truly goodbye.