Funeral fit for a hero

By Juan Escandor Jr.
Bicol Mail

Lea Marcelo, a teacher from Pili, Camarines Sur who lined up with thousands more of people as the bier of the late Interior Secretary Jesse M. Robredo moved out of the compound of the Basilica Minore, saw the funeral a phenomenal one fit for a hero.

“This is a manifestation of the greatest love to our Secretary,” she told the Bicol Mail as the cortege moved in slow cadence even as the 19-gun salute boomed in the background at 12:23 noon Tuesday.

She viewed that the love for Robredo were seen through some melancholic expression, some controlled and some demonstrative of the people who came and paid their last respects to the late secretary.

“We can’t help but shed tears yet only God knows the reason for such a great loss of a real man and hero,” Marcelo said.

As Robredo’s bier mounted on an open truck decked with white and yellow flowers passed by, people waved their hands and shouted goodbye to the well-loved son of Naga City.

With the Honor guards from the Armed Forces of the Philippines and Philippine National Police leading, the cortege moved slowly to the crematorium some 750 meters away from the Basilica Minore with national leaders, secretaries, and common people following under the searing heat of the noonday sun.

President Benigno Aquino III walked beside widowed Leni, Jessica Marie (Aika), Patricia, and Jillian, all garbed in black dresses, right after the truck carrying Robredo’s bier.

Marcelo said she found the atmosphere and ambience of the funeral as somewhat celebratory at the same time that it was mournful.

When the Robredo’s cortege reached the crematorium a three-volley gun salute was rendered which was followed by the playing of the Taps.

The Philippine flag draped on Robredo’s casket was removed and folded 18 times by Honor guards and given to President Aquino who presented it to Leni at 1:23 p.m., after which the remains were brought inside the crematorium for the cremation.

Earlier in the morning, the Funeral Mass was celebrated at the Basilica with almost all of the members of the Cabinet attending which was officiated by a priest from the Missionaries of the Poor, a Vatican-sanctioned religious group that originated  in Jamaica which provides care and shelter to abandoned disabled persons.

• September 1st 2012
• Posted in News, Obituaries
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Stately wake Robredo deserves

By Juan Escandor Jr.
Bicol Mail

PAARAM, SEC. JESSE. Grieving Nagueños, friends, and fellow government workers pay their last respects to their beloved and most admired public servant whose body lies in state at the Archbishop’s Palace in Naga City. SARAH IMPERIAL

With his bronze sealed casket draped with the Philippine flag resting inside the Archbishop’s Palace, Interior and Local Government Secretary Jesse M. Robredo is most deserving of a stately wake which will be held here until Friday.

Vice Mayor Gabriel Bordado, a close confidante of Robredo for 26 years, said the choice of place where to hold the wake compensates for his stature in the community even as he said it more literal in terms of personal relations.

Bordado said he and Robredo are both devout Catholics and are wont to confess to the priests regularly and consult for moral guidance from the bishop during trying times.

He said Robredo may also have had feet of clay but his overall demeanor and simple life style made him a decent man all throughout.

For Benjamin Peralta Jr., 51, of Sta. Cruz of this city, Robredo can never be forgotten because he was written (nakaukit) in their hearts.

Peralta said the people of Sta. Cruz cannot forget the way he led the young and the old in their village especially during typhoons as he initiated clean-up activities immediately after typhoons.

“He  is a leader who would go around the community even during the height of typhoons,” he said.

Peralta remembered Robredo’s slogan of “if not now, when?” in order for the people to voluntarily participate  in the community initiatives when he was still a mayor.

He added that anyone can approach Robredo for any assistance and the latter would not hesitate responding to their needs including scholarships to indigent students.

Joel Rocamora, of the National Anti-Poverty Commission, one of the officials of the Aquino administration, observed love and compassion from the people visiting here.

Rocamora likened the death  of  Robredo as a death  in  a family  among the members of the Cabinet.

He could have lived for 30 to 40 years more to help in the government’s reform but his life was suddenly snapped by the airplane accident.

Rocamora assessed that the impact of Robredo’s death is demonstrated by the personal concern of Mr. Aquino, Transportation and Communications Sec. Roxas, and Budget Secretary Butch Abad and many more in the Cabinet.

Prof. Rene Gumba, head of the Institute of Politics of the Ateneo De Naga, said the civil society in Camarines Sur has lost a bridge that connected them to the government’s reform movement.

“He has been so effectively linking the government to the civil society,” Gumba said.

He said he was a facilitator who puts in mechanism wherein the people could join in the decision-making process of the local government unit exemplified here by the People’s Empowerment Ordinance that allows people to participate in the crafting of ordinances and development policy formulation.

According to the latest announcement here, Robredo’s remains will be brought to Manila on Friday until Saturday and then his body will be brought back here on Sunday and then on Tuesday he will be cremated here.

Several governors including Maguindanao Gov. Esmael Magundadatu, Camarines Norte Gov. Edgardo Tallado, Ilocos Sur Gov. Chavit Singson and Cabinet members like Budget Secretary Florencio Abad, Social Welfare and Development Sec. Dinky Soliman, Transportation and Communications Secretary   Mar Roxas, Press Sec. Ricky Carandang, Sen. Franklin Drilon, Sen. Teofisto Guingona have been spotted here attending the vigil.

• August 24th 2012
• Posted in News, Obituaries
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DILG Sec. JESSE M. ROBREDO’S WAKE and INTERNMENT

SCHEDULE OF WAKE AND INTERNMENT

Aug. 22 (Wednesday) – Chapel of the Good Shepherd, Archbishop’s Palace, Naga City

09:00AM – 10:00AM – Mass
05:00PM – 06:00PM – Mass

Aug. 23 (Thursday)  - Chapel of the Good Shepherd, Archbishop’s Palace, Naga City

09:00AM – 10:00AM – Mass
05:00PM – 06:00PM – Mass

Aug. 24 (Friday)

07:45AM – 09:00AM – Transfer from Archbishop’s Palace to Pili (Naga) Airport
09:00AM – 10:30AM – Transfer from Pil (Naga) Airport to Villamor Air Base
10:30AM – 11:00AM – Transfer from Villamor Air Base to Malacañan Palace
11:00AM -12:00NN – Ceremony at Malacañan Palace – Kalayaan Hall
01:00PM – 05:30PM – Memorial Services
06:00PM – 07:00PM – Mass
07:00PM – 10:00PM – Public Viewing

Aug. 25 (Saturday) – Malacañan Palace

08:00AM – 05:45PM – Public Viewing
06:00PM – 07:00PM – Mass
07:00PM – 10:00PM – Memorial Services

Aug. 26 (Sunday) – Naga City

06:00AM – 07:00AM – Transfer from Malacañan Palace to Villamor Air Base
10:00AM – Naga City Hall

Aug. 27 (Monday) – Naga City

08:00AM – 10:00AM – Transfer from Naga City Hall to Basilica Minore de Nuestra Señora de Peñafrancia

Aug. 28 (Tuesday) – Naga City

10:00AM – Funeral Mass at the Basilica Minore de Nuestra Señora de Peñafrancia

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• August 22nd 2012
• Posted in News, Obituaries
• 17 Comments