Tuesday, May 20, 2008 Arroyo recalls good deeds, pays respect to Tita Elena
PRESIDENT Arroyo attended the burial rites of her former guardian in the United States, Elena Tan Unchuan, at the Alliance of Two Hearts Parish yesterday afternoon.
Elena, or Tita Elena to the President, was one of the best friends of her mother, Doña Eva Macaraeg-Macapagal.
Doña Eva and Elena became friends when the former came to study in Cebu, where she took her pre-med course.
When young Gloria set off to study in Georgetown University in Washington D.C., Doña Eva asked Elena to be her daughter’s guardian there. Diosdado Macapagal was the country’s president that time.
After the burial rites, the President had a quick conversation with the Unchuan family and recalled some memories she shared with her Tita Elena.
The President shared that while she was in Washington, she visited her Tita Elena’s house every Sunday to have meals there.
Elena was known for the authentic Filipino dishes she cooked for young Filipinos craving for a taste of home while studying in the United States, among them former Sen. Sergio “Serge” Osmeña III.
She was particularly famous for her sinigang na ulo ng isda and ensaymadas.
The President also recalled that her Tita Elena was always willing to cook for her, and she made it a point to serve different dishes every Sunday.
She also told the Unchuans that she learned how to cook paella from Elena, who passed away last May 6 at the age of 100.
Tita Elena spent most of her adult life in the United States, having left the country right after the war sometime in 1946. She first lived in New York and worked at the Philippine Mission to the United Nations when Carlos P. Romulo was the Philippine Ambassador to the United Nations.
Most of her life was dedicated to the foreign service, having worked as a consul.
President Arroyo also recalled that on her first date with the First Gentleman, Jose Miguel ‘Mike’ Arroyo, it was Tita Elena’s cousin who went with her as chaperone.
Relatives of Tita Elena told Sun.Star Cebu that the President was shocked when she heard the news of Tita Elena’s passing, and reportedly regretted not having been able to see her before she passed away.
After the President’s visit, Cebu City Mayor Tomas Osmeña also dropped by to pay his last respects to Tita Elena. According to the relatives present, the Unchuan family and the Osmeñas have been family friends for a long time. (EPB)
