Tuesday, March 18, 2008 Arnaiz mourns death of governor By Edmund B. Sestoso
NEGROS Oriental 2nd District Representative George Arnaiz extends his condolences to the family of the late Governor Joseph Maranañon of Negros Occidental.
Upon learning that the governor had succumbed to a lingering illness, Arnais went directly to Bacolod City right after arriving from Manila to pay his last respect to the late governor.
Arnaiz said in an interview with members of the media that the late governor was "soft spoken, simple man with big dreams."
During his term as governor, Arnaiz said he had worked closely with the late Marañon and their joint projects include the building of the friendship bridge that connects both provinces and a friendship hospital that caters to indigents from the whole Negros Island.
Arnaiz said he also cooperated with late governor into making the island the center for organic farming and popularizing the use and promotion of organic fertilizers here.
Governor Emilio Macias II of Negros Oriental and newly assumed Governor Isidro Zayco of Negros Occidental vowed to continue the programs started by their predecessors.
"He was a man who cared for his people, a really good friend, and he said what he meant and meant what he said," Arnaiz told members of the media who spotted him at the wake of the late governor.
Marañon, 73, passed away on Thursday last week. His remains lay in state at the St. Joseph the Worker Church in Sagay City.
He was buried Monday morning after a 9 a.m. mass at the family's cemetery in Barangay Rizal in Sagay City, Negros Occidental.
He was supposed to have celebrated his 74th birthday Tuesday.
Among those who came to pay their last respects were Senators Edgardo Angara and Mar Roxas, officials of Negros Occidental, business tycoon Eduardo Cojuangco, Sugar Regulatory Administrator Rafael Coscolluela, and Arnaiz.
