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Monday, April 24, 2006
Jojo’s ‘cause to go on’
By Jovy S. Taghoy
Sun.Star Staff Reporter
THE advocacy that Elpidio “Jojo” dela Victoria started lives on.
At least 2,000 people have vowed to continue dela Victoria’s fight to protect marine resources.
Dela Victoria, who was shot last April 12 and died the next day, was buried at the Talisay City Public Cemetery yesterday after a 1 p.m. concelebrated requiem mass at the St. Joseph Parish Church in Tabunok.
Msgr. Esteban Binghay, archdiocesan Episcopal vicar, dela Victoria’s son Vincent and lawyer Antonio Oposa, president of the Visayan Sea Squadron, were one in beseeching those around to continue what he started.
“The death of Jojo will hopefully serve as a wake-up call for all of us. Kung kugihan ang mga dautan, mas kugihan unta ang mga buotan. Pagkadaghan mohandum ni Jojo. Apan daghan ba kaha ang misunod sa iyang buhat? Maghugpong ta. Atong sundon ang iyang gisugdan,” Binghay said, who served as the main celebrant in the mass.
Passion
Vincent, who spoke on behalf of the dela Victoria family, echoed Binghay’s call to continue “with passion” the advocacy of his father, whom he described as an “amazing man, a good father and a good husband.”
Oposa, who has been with dela Victoria’s partner in the crusade to protect marine resources, before ending his message and testimony in the church, asked those who were willing to support and continue dela Victoria’s campaign to stand up.
Everybody in the church, estimated by the Talisay City Police Station to be at least 2,000, stood up.
They included Talisay City Mayor Socrates Fernandez, Cebu City Vice Mayor Michael Rama and Councilor Jocelyn Pesquerra, Cebu City’s First Lady Margot Osmeña and her son Miguel, former Cebu City Councilor Manuel Legaspi, former Talisay City councilor Francisco Seville Jr., who is the new executive judge of the Cebu City Municipal Trial Courts in Cities, several members of the Crusade Against Violence, leaders of different church organizations, and others who, in one way or another, were touched by dela Victoria’s advocacy.
Dela Victoria’s friends in media were also present. Dela Victoria was a broadcaster before he took up the campaign against illegal fishing.
Claps
The 2,000 people who attended the mass and brought dela Victoria’s body to his final rest sealed their vow inside the church with loud claps that lasted about one minute.
During the mass, dela Victoria’s widow Evelyn and his son Vincent read the first and second readings, respectively, while Fr. Jose Ma. Lim, dela Victoria’s close friend, delivered the Gospel.
Binghay, in his homily, described dela Victoria as a hardworking and faithful steward of God.
Apart from campaigning for the protection of marine resources, dela Victoria was also the overall president of Parish Pastoral Councils in Talisay City, He was known to have always shared his blessings to children by spearheading feeding activities, and to adults by sponsoring mass weddings for couples whose marriages have not been blessed by the church.
He also served as the Cebu City market administrator, Bantay Dagat Commission director, the president of the Philippine National Association of Fish Wardens, and executive director of the Cebu City coastal management board.
Good deeds
Death, Binghay said, should be taken positively as it serves as the gateway to heaven, especially for dela Victoria who had done good deeds.
Binghay, Vincent, Oposa and Mayor Fernandez reiterated their appeal to deliver justice for dela Victoria’s death.
Oposa said dela Victoria’s death will never stop him and the other advocates from continuing dela Victoria’s campaign.
“Kanimo, kaninyo nga mikuha sa kinabuhi ni Jojo, tingali naghunahuna kamo nga inyong gipawong ang kandila, ang kayo sa iyang kandila. Gani, daw hinuon, mikadlit kamo sa usa ka palis sa posporo nga maoy kayo nga modilaab sa among dughan, ug mohayag sa tagsa-tagsa namo ka alimpatakan. Gamay ra kita nga mituo aning kawsa, but never doubt for a single moment that a handful, thoughtful and committed men and women can change,” Oposa said.
For Bisaya stories from Cebu. Click here. (April 24, 2006 issue)
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