Former Philippine Ambassador to Australia Willy Gaa died in Manila Tuesday 8 December 2015 due to illness. He was 69 years old.
Ambassador Gaa was formerly assigned to the Philippine Embassy in Canberra as Ambassador to Australia from 2002-2003.
Newspaper Philippine Star reported he died from stroke complications from battling cancer whilst wife Erlinda Gaa, his physician Luzminda Concepcion, and a team of doctors were at his bedside.
Gaa, who served as consul general in New York from 1997 to 1999, was diagnosed with lung cancer in 2010. He completed his service as envoy to Washington D.C. from 2006 to 2011.
Gaa began his foreign service career as Vice Consul in the Philippine Consulate in San Francisco from 1975 to 1980. He first became an Ambassador to Libya from 1992 to 1996. He would become Manila’s envoy to Australia from 2003 to 2004 and China from 2004 to 2006 before he was given the U.S. assignment in 2006.
Ambassador Gaa’s remains lie in state at Funeraria Paz, Manila Memorial Park, Sucat, Parañaque. Interment will be on Tuesday, 15 December 2015, after the memorial service at 2:00pm.
A Condolence Book will be opened at the Philippine Consulate General at 28 Wenthworth Avenue, Sydney for signature by members of the Filipino community in New South Wales from tomorrow, 15 December, to Friday, 18 December, from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Should you be available to sign the Condolence Book outside of the above dates and time only, please contact Ms. Rachel Calisin of the Consulate at email address, sydney.pcg@dga.gov.ph, or telephone no. 9285-8107.