An exemplary leader, a pioneer, a trailblazer, and woman of vision and action.
Such was Mayor Joni Villanueva Tugna as JIL’s Executive Director. She dreamed big dreams for God and the ministry and worked day and night to bring those to fruition. In fact, she was the brains behind JIL’s many breakthrough programs, systems, structures, and infrastructures, some of which include the establishment of JIL’s Executive Management Board and the renovation of Camp Praise Valley.
Then, God led her to the path of public service. As mayor of Bocaue, Bulacan, she was also a pioneer and trailblazer: innovative in her methods and humane in her actions. In fact, even as she was sick, she was working and serving and caring for her constituents—involved even in the packing and distribution of relief goods until her body stopped her to do so.
That is why our hearts are grieving that today, at 5:08pm, our dear Mayor Joni, because of sepsis secondary to bacterial pneumonia, has left this world and has come home to her Father in heaven.
As shocking as it is, we trust in God’s wisdom and sovereignty and believe that Mayor Joni is now at the best place in the world: in the arms of our Lord.
While we grieve her passing, let us also not forget to keep praying for the whole Villanueva and Tugna families as they go through this emotional ordeal. Let us keep covering them in our prayers and seek God’s comforting hand to be upon them now more than ever before.