Hilarion “Larry” Henares Jr. has passed away at the age of 100, as confirmed by his daughter-in-law, former BIR Commissioner Kim Henares. Larry died on Saturday, December 14.
In a heartfelt Facebook post, Kim expressed gratitude to her father-in-law for inspiring her to work in government and serve the country. “Never did I dream I would be in government… if it were not for Papa,” she shared, adding that Larry encouraged his children to serve the nation after achieving success in their private careers.
Kim fondly recalled their deep discussions on politics, governance, and life, saying she would miss his playful teasing about their contrasting “fascist” and “liberal” views. Despite the sadness of his passing, Kim said she finds comfort in imagining Larry reunited with his wife, Cecilia, in heaven.
The National Museum of the Philippines (NMP) also paid tribute to Larry on Tuesday, honoring his contributions as the institution’s second Chairman of the Board of Trustees. Appointed by former President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo in March 2010, Larry served briefly until August 2010 but achieved significant milestones during his tenure.
His contributions included:
- Appointing Jeremy Barns as NMP Director
- Unveiling Juan Luna’s restored “Una Bulaqueña” as a National Cultural Treasure
- Launching permanent exhibitions featuring works by Juan Luna, Felix Resurrección Hidalgo, and National Artist Fernando Amorsolo
- Opening the “National Cultural Treasures of Philippine Archaeology” exhibition, showcasing the country’s 30 most significant archaeological artifacts
The National Museum expressed deep gratitude for Larry’s leadership, remembering him “with great fondness.”
Larry celebrated his 100th birthday in April 2024, surrounded by his family. “I would like to think he enjoyed the celebration we had,” Kim said, reflecting on the meaningful milestone.