Three former Speakers of the House of Representatives have joined together to pay tribute to the late Governor Dakila Carlo “Dax” E. Cua of Quirino, celebrating his dedicated public service, masterly legislative skills and remarkably compassionate approach to leadership.
Former President and Speaker Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, currently serving as Pampanga Representative, praised Cua’s deep understanding of fiscal policy during his tenure as chair of the House Committee on Ways and Means. She highlighted his efforts on the proposed Tax Reform for Attracting Better and High Quality Opportunities (TRABAHO) law.
“Dax had both, command of the numbers and empathy,” Arroyo said. She noted his push to bring Philippine tax structures in line with regional peers, recalling “Dax pointed out also that our 30 percent corporate income tax was too high compared to the 20 percent of Cambodia, Thailand and Vietnam, and his bill provided for the lowering of ours in stages to 20 percent.”
Arroyo underscored Cua’s dedication to smaller businesses, adding, “he explained how it would be a big relief to Small and Medium Enterprises, which are 95 percent of all corporate taxpayers. Dax said these MSMEs would use money won’t spent on tax and to instead grown their businesses, increase wages or lower prices.”
Former Speaker Feliciano “Sonny” Belmonte Jr. reflected on Cua’s early start in governance, noting he entered public life at age 23 as the nation’s youngest vice governor.
“For a quarter of a century, he poured his youth, his brilliant mind, and his massive heart into lifting up others,” Belmonte remarked. He pointed to local milestones Cua championed for Quirino, such as the “I Love Quirino” initiative, the Q-LIFE livelihood framework and the establishment of Quirino State University.
Beyond policy milestones, Belmonte remembered Cua’s grounded nature. “Gov. Dax was a gentle giant. Despite his towering stature and powerful intellect, he was fundamentally unassuming, grounded and deeply humble,” Belmonte stated, emphasizing Cua’s accessible leadership style “he was a leader who truly listened. He did not rule from a distant ivory tower; his warmth was felt in every handshake, every spontaneous smile and every conversation on the ground.”
Former Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez echoed these sentiments, fondly characterizing Cua as a politician who balanced conviction with exceptional personal courtesy.
“What’s truly impressive about Dax, however, is that he’s confident but unassuming. He was smart, but not arrogant. And he was deliberate and yet, somehow, knew how to exercise restraint,” Alvarez said. “Most of all, Dax Cua was both kind and compassionate.”
Alvarez recounted how Cua handled ideological differences thoughtfully. Although Cua personally disagreed with restoring the death penalty during the 17th Congress, he quietly met with House leadership to outline his stance rather than provoking a media dispute. Alvarez also recalled Cua’s genuine concern for congressional staff working grueling hours on the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion (TRAIN) law.
Referring to a former female staffer, Alvarez said that “whenever she and the other staff were already sleepy and yawning during the Committee hearings for TRAIN Law, Dax—despite all the responsibilities he held—would notice and ask them, ‘Okay pa ba kayo?’”
Closing with a lighter memory, Alvarez amused attendees by recalling Cua’s unexpected visit to the legislative staff’s back office, where several female aides had posted photos of Cua on the walls.
“Some of the staff actually had their pictures with Dax Cua printed and posted on the wall, mga fans. They did that because they never expected Dax Cua to visit the backend office, kasi hindi naman talaga pumupunta dun yung mga politiko,” Alvarez recalled. “So yun nga yung nangyari, to the horror of the girls who had a crush on him. Kasi napunta si Dax sa backend office, at yung mga fans niya nagulat, kasi nakakahiya. Yung mga pictures nila kasama si Dax nandun kasi naka-tape sa pader… That’s the Dax Cua effect. Malakas ang dating.”