We offer our prayers to the family of Karina Costantino-David, who passed away last night at the age of 73, according to her family’s official statement.
The former Civil Service Commission chairperson was the daughter of renowned historian Renato Constantino, the wife of UP professor emeritus Randy David, and the mother of Carlos Primo, Nadya, Brice, and award-winning GMA News reporter and documentary filmmaker Kara, who got emotional about her mother’s passing on Instagram. “Paalam mommy…mahal na mahal kita. Salamat po sa inspirasyon, sa tapang, sa mga mahahalagang turo at higit sa lahat sa pagmamahal sa pamilya at sa bayan,” Kara wrote. “Sorry po sa aking mga naging pagkukulang. Mahal na mahal kita. Panginoon, Kayo na po ang bahala kay Mama.”
Karina is well-known for her lifetime service advocating for the rights of women, children, and the poor. “Much of her life was spent serving the Filipino people in her work as professor, activist, community organizer, and public servant. She was a patriot in the true sense of the word,” her family said in the statement. “As a professional, she was the epitome of discipline, intelligence and integrity; as a wife, mother, and grandmother, she was the perfect example of patience, selflessness and unconditional love.”
Aside from taking on the role of CSC chairperson, she also served as DWSD undersecretary, chair of the Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council, member of the Board of Trustees of the GSIS, executive director of NGO Harnessing Self-Reliant Initiatives and Knowledge (HASIK), Vice chairperson of the Women’s Action Network for Development, and consultant to poverty and women’s program policy planning of the Asian and Pacific Development Centre.
Additionally, the former UP assistant professor was also a composer-guitarist of the feminist female duo Inang Laya.
We are truly saddened by the loss of a great Filipina artist and public servant. We extend our deepest condolences to her family.
[GMA News and ABS-CBN News]
Photo courtesy of @everydayhistoryph’s Instagram account
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