Monday, November 06, 2006 Ex-Mandaue councilor dies
FORMER Mandaue City councilor and Social Security Systems (SSS) branch manager Rodulfo Ceniza passed away last Oct. 31 after a long bout of illness.
He was 68.
A well-organized man, Ceniza even left behind a will containing specific instructions to his family on what to do when “the inevitable comes.”
Ceniza, who was also a lawyer, served Mandaue City as an OIC councilor from April 1986 to December 1987, under the term of then acting mayor Vicente de la Serna.
He also served the SSS even after he retired.
Ceniza’s wife, Angelita, told Sun.Star Cebu in an interview that prior to his death, Rodulfo vomited a lot of blood.
He was immediately brought to a private hospital where he was declared dead.
Last March, Rodulfo underwent surgery for hernia. He had also suffered from hypertension.
Premonition
Angelita said her husband had a lot of premonitions of his own death, but she dismissed them thinking he was just joking.
He had kept mentioning about his benefits from the SSS and the Government Service Insurance System.
She said that the night before he died, Rodulfo arrived home from work and looked for all his grandchildren because he wanted to bring them to a nearby fastfood for dinner.
Angelita was a bit surprised at the gesture, saying he was used to having dinner at home, but she just let her husband have his way.
While waiting for their order at the fastfood, Rodulfo read a newspaper and mentioned to Angelita about what should be done when somebody in the family dies.
Angelita and their children weren’t aware of his will until they opened Ceniza’s briefcase after his death.
‘Hands off’
The eldest daughter, Fatima Ceniza-Alferez, said her father was very particular about his things from work so they didn’t touch his books, papers and briefcase at all when he was still alive.
Alferez said her father left specific instructions because he was the type who didn’t want to bother anyone.
Rodulfo’s instructions stated that his coffin must be greenish or grayish in color and that a Philippine flag must be draped over it.
He also said the Mandaue City Council be requested to allow his remains to lie in state at the session hall on the eve of his burial.
He also requested that the incumbent city councilors act as pallbearers.
Rodulfo also listed a specific route for his funeral, from his residence in Barangay Cambaro, to the Virgen de la Paz chapel, Mandaue City Hall, National Shrine of St. Joseph and on to the cemetery.
He also specified that a band must accompany the funeral and that his favorite Visayan songs must be sung before he is finally laid to rest.
Eulogy
Rodulfo also listed the persons who will deliver eulogies during the necrological services.
He included the president of the chapel where he served as president, and the barangay captain of Looc, where he implemented projects during his stint as OIC councilor.
Editha Cabahug is now barangay captain of Looc and her husband, Raul, is a city councilor.
Raul is also expected to deliver a eulogy as a member of the council.
Lawyer Victor Biaño, who was also an OIC councilor, is also in the list of friends expected to deliver a eulogy.
“With all of these complied, I am absolutely sure that my spirit will proceed and be at peace with the good Lord,” stated Rodulfo’s will.
Even after his death, Rodulfo still managed to leave instructions to his wife.
Angelita said that a few days after his death, Rodulfo appeared to her when she was about to sleep and told her to have the house improved, including the building of a firewall.
He also told her to take care of her health.
Councilor’s son
Rodulfo was a son of a former councilor in Mandaue.
He joined the SSS in 1964 and rose from the ranks.
From clerk, he was promoted to claims processor, field representative and chief of the benefits branch at the SSS in Cebu City.
He retired from government service in 1983 and was appointed OIC city councilor of Mandaue in 1986.
In 1989, he was persuaded to serve the SSS again, which he did.
He was legal officer of the Cebu regional office and later promoted to technical assistant. He was again promoted as corporate executive officer, a rank equivalent to assistant branch manager.
Rodulfo was responsible in the opening of the SSS branch in Lapu-Lapu City, where he served as officer-in-charge.
Rodulfo had nine children, 26 grandchildren and two great grandchildren. (AAG)
