He was on leave as a Post columnist since the paper's issue on July 5, 2009. But in deference to his “never- say- die” attitude, the paper's management decided to place the template of his column “The Looking Glass” in the Opinion Page of the Post even if he was already out of circulation. Known in the Bar circle as among the most sought-after legal eagles, lawyer Isabelo Sales, Jr. wrote “30” to his column The Looking Glass after a losing battle with the Big C. In Bohol , Sales as a professional, belonged to the rarer specie. He was one of the few lawyers who was a journalism diploma holder. He graduated Bachelor of Science in Journalism at the Lyceum of the Phils. in Manila . As a lawyer-journalist, he became the first provincial secretary of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan during the time of former governor Lino I. Chatto. He was a contemporary of Gov. Erico Aumentado who started his political career as board member during Chatto's incumbency. Sales became an elected member of the SP in 1998 until 2001. The last position he held was that of president of the Integrated Bar of the Phils., Bohol chapter.

TEMPORARY

His writing skills gave rise to The Looking Glass column in this paper. But last July, what seemed to be a temporary leave became permanent when as time went by, he was unable to fulfill his obligation as a columnist. It turned out that may be unknown to him, he had already in his system, what appeared to be the deadly virus that ultimately finished him off. The inevitable came last Monday when news broke out that the Post columnist left his column duties forever. He died after a six- month battle with prostate cancer, an ailment that nobody among his close friends believed that he was a victim of. Sales' coterie of coffee cronies at the Bo's Coffee Club at the Island City Mall were stunned when they learned that his afternoon sorties became scarce and far between. When coffee talk became a vogue in town, Sales was a regular fixture of the coffee circuit so much so that his permanent absence is surely missed. Sales, a widower, was survived by his five children Engr. Angelus Sales, Ms. Belinda Sales-Canlas, Ms. Charmaine Sales, Ms. Delora Sales-Simbajon, Elijah Sales and brothers Engr. Romy Sales and Capt. Jesse Sales. The former IBP president's remains now lie in state at the Sales residence along Baguio Drive , in Taloto district, this city. He will be interred at 10:00 AM tomorrow at the Victoria Memorial Park.