Aquino: Let us stop weeping, let’s say thank you

By Jonas Cabiles Soltes, Juan Escandor Jr., Michael Lim Ubac
Inquirer Southern Luzon, Philippine Daily Inquirer

12:15 am | Wednesday, August 29th, 2012

END OF STATE FUNERAL RITES, THE HERO BEGINS President Aquino along with Maria Leonor “Leni” Robredo, wife of the late Interior Secretary Jesse Robredo, and daughters Aika, Tricia and Jillian, stand by the casket at the entrance of the Imperial Crematory and Columbary in Naga City on Tuesday. MALACAÑANG PHOTO BUREAU

PRESIDENTIAL SALUTE President Aquino bows before the casket of the late Interior Secretary Jesse Robredo at Basilica Minore de Nuestra Señora de Peñafrancia in Naga City on Tuesday. The President said Robredo was “already in the ranks of heroes watching over us from heaven, and he is giving us the strength to continue with their good deeds.” LYN RILLON

NAGA CITY—Eulogizing Interior and Local Government Secretary Jesse Robredo on the final day of national mourning before his interment here on Tuesday, President Aquino said that the secretary had joined the pantheon of national heroes looking after his countrymen.

“Jesse is already in the ranks of heroes watching over us from heaven, and he is giving us the strength to continue with their good deeds. So let us stop weeping; instead, let us give thanks,” the President said in a speech delivered in Filipino that elicited repeated applause from the crowd at Minor Basilica of Our Lady of Peñafrancia, where the concelebrated requiem Mass was held.

“For the brief time that he was here in this world, we were the ones blessed to be in the company of Jesse Manalastas Robredo,” said Mr. Aquino, who wore a black arm band as a sign of mourning.

“Goodbye, Jesse. In behalf of the nation, thank you very much,” the President concluded.

The funeral rites came 10 days after Robredo, 54, and the two pilots of a Piper Seneca died in a plane crash at sea in Masbate.

In his eulogy, Mr. Aquino summed up the gravity of Robredo’s death. “His family lost a husband and father; the nation lost a trustworthy and efficient leader; I lost a brother in the official family of the Cabinet who was an ally in our crusades, and a party mate. I lost a good friend,” he said. 

Robredo had served for 19 years as mayor of this city before joining the Aquino administration in 2010.

‘Tsinelas people’

Fr. Kulandairaj Ambrose, Jamaican-based of the Missionaries of the Poor, who officiated the funeral Mass, declared Robredo a champion of the “tsinelas people,” referring to the poor, the abandoned, homeless, and neglected whom many considered  a “burden” on society.

Ambrose, a Jamaican missionary, was personally asked by Robredo’s widow, lawyer Maria Leonor “Leni,” to officiate the requiem Mass.

The priest said that Robredo had proven that the “Filipino is worth dying for,” borrowing the famous line of the President’s  father, slain Sen. Benigno Aquino Jr.

“I am humble and honored to do this to a friend, a great man and a friend of the poor,” said the priest, who vowed to establish a free clinic for the poor “in his honor.”

Describing Robredo as a family man, a “man of the poor,” and a “God-fearing man,” Ambrose lamented that his wards would surely miss Robredo. “He was their father; they are his children,” said Ambrose.

“He was there even when we did not need him. You may call it a tsinelas friendship.”

Crowd like ‘Ina’ feast

The throng of mourners was so huge that more than a hectare grounds of the basilica and Magsaysay and Peñafrancia Avenues filled with  people, which only happens during the annual September processions of the image of the Virgin Mary, to whom Robredo was a devoted.

Two Marian processions are held every third Friday and Saturday of September in Naga City—the Traslacion on Friday and the fluvial procession the following day.

But on the interment of Robredo, all three recognizable landmarks of this city were filled with men and women in yellow, who also wore tsinelas or rubber slippers as tribute to the simplicity of Robredo.

Thousands of Camarines Sur residents converged in Naga, mindless of the searing heat.

‘Voyadores’

The size of the crowd on the streets was comparable to the crowd that would gather every “traslacion” or fluvial procession.

Some of the men donned the trimmings of the “voyadores,” or men who carry the Virgin Mary during the processions. They wear yellow headbands. Voyadores also wear headbands of different colors from red to blue during the Peñafrancia fiesta.

But unlike the voyadores who walk barefoot, most of the men wore slippers.

It was different, too, from the traslacion and the fluvial procession since many women came. Women are not allowed to join the main procession every September and can only trail the men.

Lea Marcelo, a teacher from Pili, Camarines Sur, who lined up with thousands of people as the bier of the late secretary was moving out of the compound of the basilica, was among those who described the funeral as “phenomenal one fit for a hero.”

“This is a manifestation of the greatest love for our secretary,” she told the Philippine Daily Inquirer as the cortege moved in slow cadence and the gun salute boomed.

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

As Robredo’s bier mounted on an open truck decked with white and yellow flowers passed by, people waved to show they were saying goodbye to a well-loved son of Naga City. They shouted, “Pogi, pogi, pogi.

Legion of Honor

Before the eulogy, the President conferred posthumously the Philippine Legion of Honor, with the rank of Chief Commander, on Robredo.

It was the President’s penultimate act before he handed Robredo’s widow the flag which, for many mourners here, has come to symbolize the country’s undying gratitude to a fallen son of Bicol who had devoted his life to God and country.

The future

The President talked about a future when he and members of his Cabinet would meet and discuss what they went through during their incumbency.

“Jesse will not be with us during those conversations. We won’t be teasing Jesse about how he would size up his daughter’s suitors, and in the coming years, he won’t be around to play with his grandchildren,” he said.

Mr. Aquino said many in the Cabinet had hoped that Robredo would still show up and say, “Forgive me, you were all inconvenienced by my delayed arrival.”

Simple living

He made public what could probably be Robredo’s private personality—the “what you see is what you get” attitude; his quiet but hardworking work ethic; simple living; and proximity to the masses.

Mr. Aquino also joked about Robredo’s singing “limitations,” although two of his favorite songs were “My Way” and “Impossible Dream.”

“Jesse is a trailblazer in the ‘straight path,’” the President said.

“He proved that someone could succeed in politics without becoming a traditional politician,” and that early in his political career, “he longed for deep and widespread change,” Mr. Aquino said.

Cabinet pallbearers

By virtue of a presidential edict, Robredo was accorded full military honors befitting a head of state when he was finally laid to rest here.

The funeral and interment arrangements prepared by the Palace Committee on Funeral Arrangements and Burial were followed religiously.

After the President’s eulogy, the honor guard carried Robredo’s flag-draped casket and put it on a bier.

Secretaries Leila de Lima, Rogelio Singson, Rene Almendras, Edwin Lacierda and Teresita Deles; Metropolitan Manila Development Chairman Francis Tolentino and Lualhati Antonino, the chair of the Mindanao Development Authority, served as pallbearers

The police and military detail rendered for the last time departure honors, including a 19-gun salute, before the funeral cortege proceeded to Funeraria Imperial Crematory and Columbary, some 700 meters away from the basilica.

All Cabinet members

The President, Robredo’s immediate family—Leni, Aika, Patricia and Jillian—close relatives and friends, and all members of the Cabinet followed the bier on foot.

The cortege reached the crematory at 1:03 p.m., when the military detail rendered the final honors for Robredo and a three-volley gun salute accompanied by a sounding of Taps.

For the last time, the crowd applauded Robredo before the casket bearers removed and folded the flag. It was handed to the President, who then presented it to Robredo’s wife at 1:24 p.m.

National Days of Mourning

This ended the state funeral, which began on August 21, when the President signed Proclamation No. 460 proclaiming National Days of Mourning until interment.

Later Tuesday, Robredo’s ashes would be interred in a plot in the Eternal Gardens beside the funeral home in a ceremony exclusive to the family and close friends of Robredo.

National figure

In a span of just seven years, Robredo was the second national figure from this region to be mourned by Bicolanos.

Robredo was a close ally of the late Sen. Raul Roco—also one of the region’s most beloved sons—who died in August 2005, after a long bout with prostate cancer.

Robredo walked alongside Roco’s hearse during the funeral procession attended by some 50,000 people

MANILA, Philippines—President Beningo Aquino on Friday morning received the remains of Interior Secretary Jesse Robredo at  Malacañan Palace where it will lie in state for two days after being flown from Naga City.

Aquino, together with Robredo’s widow, Leni, and daughters, Aika, Patricia and Jillian, stood under a canopied porch at Kalayaan Hall as eight uniformed pallbearers carried the flag-draped casket from the hearse and lowered it before them.

Shortly after, the honorary pallbearers—Budget Secretary Florencio Abad, Transportation and Communications Secretary Manuel Roxas II, Cavite Representative Joseph E. A. Abaya, Harvey Keh of the Kaya Natin! Movement for Good Governance and Ethical Leadership, Alice Murphy of the Urban Poor Associates, and Joan dela Cruz of the Department of Interior and Local Government—took their positions on each side of casket.

As the military band played the national anthem, a 19-gun salute filled the air.

The uniformed pallbearers then carried the casket into the American-era hall, followed by the honorary pallbearers, then the President, and Robredo’s family, as a shower of confetti fell from a hovering helicopter.

Robredo’s remains, which arrived in Malacañang at 11:15 a.m., will lie in state in the hall until Sunday morning when they will be flown back to Naga City, Robredo’s hometown and, in his widow’s words, his “happy place.”

Robredo’s colleagues in Cabinet, Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile, Senators Gregorio Honasan and Ralph Recto, House Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr., top military and police officials, among others, came to pay homage to the 54-year-old late secretary, who died in a plane crash off Masbate City last Saturday.

All may come to pay their last respects to Jesse Robredo and need not worry about donning formal attire.

The wake for the late interior and local government secretary in Malacañang’s Kalayaan Hall will be open to the public from Friday night to Saturday, Communications Undersecretary Manuel Quezon III said Thursday.

President Aquino and Robredo’s family will receive the body Friday morning on the grounds of the American-era hall after it is flown from Naga City for a two-day wake in Malacañang, he said.

Robredo, 54, died with two others after their plane crashed in the waters off Masbate City on the afternoon of August 18 while flying from Cebu to Naga City. His aide survived the crash.

On arrival, Robredo’s body will be brought down from the hearse by eight bearers and six honorary pallbearers handpicked by his family, including Cabinet secretaries, and will be greeted by a 19-gun salute.

They are Budget Secretary Florencio Abad, Transportation Secretary Manuel Roxas II, Cavite Representative Joseph E. A. Abaya, Harvey Keh of Kaya Natin! Movement, Alice Murphy of the Urban Poor Associates and Joan de la Cruz of the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG).

In Palace until Sunday
Then this will be carried into the hall where it will lie in state until Sunday morning, Quezon said.

“The wish of the Robredo family and the President’s order is to give our countrymen an opportunity to condole and pay their respects,” Quezon told reporters at a briefing in Malacañang. He said the public could come in any attire that they deemed appropriate.

The public can enter Kalayaan Hall through Gate 7.

On Friday, public viewing is open from 7 p.m. to 11 p.m., according to Quezon.

This will be preceded by a series of memorial services sponsored by the DILG, urban poor groups, and the Kaya Natin! Movement for Good Governance and Ethical Leadership from 1 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. and a Mass from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m.

Public viewing resumes Saturday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Return to Naga
This will be followed by a Mass from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m., which is also open to the public, and memorial services sponsored by the Liberal Party from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m., and by the Cabinet from 8:15 p.m. to 10 p.m.

Robredo’s remains will be flown back to Naga on Sunday morning.

All throughout the transport of his body from Naga to Manila and back, the late secretary would be accorded full honors, Quezon said.

The Philippine National Police will perform departure honors when the body is transported from the Archbishop’s Palace in Naga to the airport. Six honorary pallbearers were designated by the family.

Before the plane carrying the body departs for Villamor Air Base in Pasay City, the PNP will again render departure honors.

Once it arrives at the air base, the Armed Forces will perform arrival honors.

From the air base, the Presidential Security Group will escort the body to Malacañang, and will perform arrival honors, including a 19-gun salute.

On Sunday, the PSG will perform departure honors, including a 19-gun salute, before the body is transported to Villamor Air Base. Arrival honors will be performed at the Naga airport before the body is transported to Naga City Hall, according to Quezon.

Eulogy by Aquino
On Monday, Robredo’s remains will be brought from City Hall to the Basilica Minore de Nuestra Señora de Peñafrancia, again with full honors. Interment is set for Tuesday in Naga City.

 The President will deliver the eulogy for Robredo in an elaborate state funeral on Tuesday, Quezon said.

After the 10 a.m. Mass at the Basilica Minore de Nuestra Señora de Peñafrancia, the Robredo family will begin the ceremonies for the state funeral by issuing its response to the public.

 “This will be followed by a eulogy to be delivered by President Aquino,” Quezon told reporters.

 After the eulogy, Robredo’s remains will be brought out of the basilica by the pallbearers handpicked by his family, with full departure honors, including a 19-gun salute, according to Quezon.

Taps
From the basilica, the funeral cortege will proceed to Funeraria Imperial, accompanied by a military band. On arrival there, a company of 21 soldiers will give a three-volley salute and then taps will be sounded.

 After this, the national flag will be taken off the casket, folded and presented to Robredo’s widow Leni by Aquino to conclude the state funeral.

 Cremation

“After this, the remains of Secretary Robredo will be brought inside Funeraria Imperial for the cremation. After the cremation, the PNP will escort the family as they undertake the private interment of the ashes,” Quezon said.

 After Robredo’s body was recovered from the fuselage of the ill-fated plane on Tuesday morning, Malacañang announced a state funeral for him, and days of mourning from that day until his interment.

 Flags were also lowered to half-staff in all government buildings and installations for six days beginning Wednesday.

TJ Burgonio
Philippine Daily Inquirer
2:02 am | Friday, August 24th, 2012