Sonny Belmonte on the unfading grief of losing wife Betty Go-Belmonte more than 30 years ago
Jan. 28 marks the 32nd death anniversary of journalist and newspaper publisher Betty Go-Belmonte. Even after all these years, her impact lives on in the people she touched.
Known simply as “Betty” among colleagues, the loss of the pioneering journalist remains a deeply personal and painful memory—one that time has softened, but never erased, particularly for her family.
Her husband, former House speaker Feliciano “Sonny” Belmonte Jr., shared how their family grieved following the matriarch's passing in 1994.
“We were grieving for years. Hindi [ka] naman over it in an instant e. The sufferings of the mother is a subject that is always on our mind but we never like to talk about it dahil mag-iiyakan lang eh,” he said in an interview with The Philippine STAR. He shared how Betty is remembered as a "very lovable and caring wife."
Their son, Miguel Belmonte, who currently serves as the CEO of The STAR, shared that while his mom was a workaholic, she did not fail to fulfill her duties as a mom for him and his siblings, Isaac, Kevin, and Joy, who currently serves as the mayor of Quezon City.
"She's a wonderful mother," he said, adding that while his mother was "workaholic," he never felt neglected.
"She's a very loving mother, not just to us, her children, but even to all her staff," he added.
Betty secretly suffered from breast cancer, which later progressed to bone cancer, leading to her death at 60. Even at the time, she continued to carry out her duties at the paper.
"It was only death that could take her away from her job, her responsibility, and her love for The Philippine STAR and its staff," Miguel added.
“I never stopped being with her for a long time until a certain period na hindi na niya kaya,” Sonny shared. "She lives on in all her children, and in me," he continued.
Betty served as an editor for Fookien Times Philippines Yearbook, Movieworld, and STAR! Monthly magazine. She later established The Philippine Star and the Philippine Daily Inquirer.
She was also active with civic organizations, establishing STAR's Operation Damayan, and participating in the Quezon City Associated Ladies Foundation and the Philippine National Red Cross.
Her legacy is memorialized through the Betty Go-Belmonte Station on Light Rail Transit Line 2. It sits near familiar landmarks such as Cubao Cathedral, the Holy Buddhist Temple, and Robinsons Magnolia.
