Hon. Donald Neil Plett: Colleagues, I also wish to pay tribute to our colleague but, much more importantly, our friend, Tobias Enverga. I would like to address my comments, if I could, to Tobias’s family, his wife, Rosemer, and their three daughters, Rystle, Reeza and Rocel. I knew Tobias as a senator and a colleague and had come to appreciate his commitment and dedication. He was someone who I, as the whip of our caucus, could always depend on.

I spent the last year and a half sitting on Fisheries Committee with Tobias and appreciated his strength and support at that committee. But few, if any of us, in this chamber really knew or appreciated what an impact our friend had across our great country and overseas in the country of his origin.

Most of us were spellbound by the words of the priest on Monday, at Tobias’s funeral, about the work that he had done in the Filipino community, both here and abroad, how he had organized relief when the massive tsunami hit his homeland. The impact Tobias had here was evidenced by the 1,500-plus people who attended his funeral on Monday and the 1,800 who attended prayers over the three days.

We will all miss Tobias. However, our mourning will subside; yours is just beginning. I assure you that we will continue to uphold you in our prayers, and we wish you God’s peace and know that you will find strength in his love.

I do not very often recite scripture in this chamber, but, if my colleagues will indulge me, I would like to leave you, Rosemer, and your daughters, with these two passages of scripture.

Psalm 116:15 reads:

Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his saints.

Isaiah 41:10 reads:

Fear not for I am with you; be not dismayed for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.

We wish you God’s very sincerest blessings.

 


Hon. Paul E. McIntyre: Honourable senators, I also rise today to pay tribute to our colleague and dear friend, Senator Tobias C. Enverga, Jr. I echo the remarks made by other senators surrounding his long record of commitment to his country, his community, and to Canada’s diversity and pluralism.

Like all of you, I was shocked and saddened by his death. Senator Enverga and I were appointed to the Senate on the same day, along with Senators Bellemare, Ngo and McInnis.

I extend my sincere condolences to his wife, his three daughters, and his extended family and friends.

Colleagues, we will all remember his strong, powerful voice, filled with passion and emotion, a voice we will not be hearing anymore. But the echo of that voice, like a ghost of the past visiting the inner walls of this chamber, will return, reminding all of us of the importance of our work and commitment as senators, and the true meaning of “house of sober second thought.”

God bless him.

Source: https://sencanada.ca/en/content/sen/chamber/421/debates/163db_2017-11-29-e#8