Friday, March 14, 2008 Editorial: Sun.Star Bacolod bids goodbye to a great man
GOVERNOR Joseph Marañon will best be remembered by his wit and humor. This is a character of an intelligent person oozing with sincerity in serving his fellowmen.
Both the young and the old colleagues in government of Governor Marañon are hats off at his political acumen. Even his political nemesis, if any, were a bit cowed before him. He ran virtually uncontested last May 2007 election.
Two of the youngest members of the City Council were reached Thursday. The youngest member Jebmari Bicaro was sobbing heavily when interviewed in his cell phone.
She was alone in her Cebu dormitory shedding tears, talking of how short lived was her official stay in office with the Governor as "the father" of the province.
"In all those days, (there was) never a dull moment with him," she cried recalling those days.
Another young provincial legislator Patrick Lacson called the Governor as a role model, saying, "I owe my involvement in the service of the poor because Governor Marañon taught me so. He chided me when I was complacent but protected me like a father when something hit me."
The young Lacson was almost in tears while expressing his grief. He had served the Governor as executive assistant for a number of years.
Members of media will remember the Governor when he expressed his aspiration to build bridges between and among the islands of Western Visayas.
We will never forget how he would like to conserve water for agricultural Negros Occidental by building the irrigation highway.
His speech was a bit slow then, but his forethoughts were vibrant, something we will all cherished.
To the family of the late Governor Joseph Marañon, our deepest sympathy, his monument is now eternally built in all our hearts. What he had done outlived us all.
