Former Cebu City Councilor Sylvan ‘Jack’ Jakosalem passes away
CEBU CITY, Philippines — Former Cebu City Councilor Sylvan “Jack” Jakosalem passed away on Wednesday, February 17, 2021.
Jakosalem’s wife, Catalina Sharon Yap-Jakosalem, confirmed this via a text message to close friends and family.
“Jack Jakosalem passed away around 6:40am earlier today. His wake will be at St. Peter Imus,” the text message read.
Jakosalem, who was also a noted radio DJ, was 57.
Netizens, friends, and former colleagues offered their condolences to the family of Jakosalem, who is known as “Jack the Wack” at the radio station Y101 FM, following the report of his passing.
Cebu City Vice Mayor Michael Rama lamented the loss of a close ally, who he said is one of the first members of Barug Team Rama.
“I am saddened to hear of the passing of a good friend, a radio DJ & a fellow public servant, Sylvan ‘Jack the Wack’ Jakosalem. Jack served Cebu City as a city councilor and former CITOM Chief, where he courageously advocated for solutions to traffic including opposing the controversial constriction of two flyovers. He was a passionate advocate for a more livable Cebu City.”
“Jack is one of the original members of Team Rama. He joined us in 2012 as he shared in many of our principles. It was our honor to work with a man with such dedication and steadfast bravery in his advocacies. I will miss all the conversations we had and all the good timed we shared. ‘Jack the Wack’ signs off today. You will be missed, Jack,” said Rama.
Councilor Alvin Dizon, a colleague, also reminisced their days working for non-governmental organizations (NGO) and social programs.
“Jack Jakosalem was a very hardworking councilor. During my NGO days, I partnered with his office on social programs (before I became a city councilor). I also grew up listening to him as Jack the Wack over FM Station Y101 in the late 80s to 90s. Farewell former city councilor Jack Jakosalem and may eternal light shine upon you,” said Dizon.
The council is set to honor the late three-term councilor in the regular session on Wednesday.
Jakosalem ran under the Barug party for another term as a councilor in 2013 but fell into a coma before the elections.
A year before that, he underwent brain surgery due to neurocysticercosis or a parasitic disease in the nervous system.Read: Jakosalem confined in hospital
Read: Citom’s Jakosalem recovering from brain surgery; 2013 run uncertain
He was hospitalized on February 14, 2021, due to seizure, pneumonia, and UTI.
The former councilor also served as the chairman of the Cebu City Integrated Traffic Operations Management (Citom) under the Rama administration.
/bmjo
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