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Tuesday, November 04, 2003
Ganzon laid to rest in hasty burial rites
THE late Senator Rodolfo "Roding" Ganzon was buried Monday in hasty funeral rites at the Molo Cemetery, surprising Ilonggos who were expecting the interment to take place in November 15 yet.
After his body was blessed at their ancestral home in San Antonio, Molo, all his 10 children brought his remains to the cemetery, where a mass and a eulogy were held around 11:30 a.m. He was also honored with a 21-gun salute.
About 5,000 of Ganzon's loyal supporters also paid their last respects to the late statesman, best remembered by the Ilonggos as the "Father of the Timawa (common man)".
Observers believe the number could have tripled if the public was informed beforehand of the interment schedule.
Presidential assistant for regional development Rene Villa confirmed that President Arroyo was supposed to come to Ganzon's wake Wednesday.
Karen Ganzon, the late senator's granddaughter, however, appealed to the Ilonggos to understand their family's decision.
"These are not normal times for the family. If there are no problems, we will give him the best funeral ever. But we just want everything to be peaceful," the younger Ganzon said in an interview with radio station Aksyon Radyo-Iloilo.
She said all the Ganzon children, including her father, Freeman, decided Sunday night that it would be best to bury their father Monday.
The late senator, who was also elected mayor of Iloilo City four times, was buried beside the tomb of his first wife, Dolores, at the family's mausoleum.
Ganzon, who suffered a multi-organ failure, died early morning last October 29 after staying for 17 months at the St. Paul's Hospital in Iloilo City. He was 81.
Mass at Tanza Church
Ganzon's second wife, Rona Anape, held a separate mass at the Tanza Church, also in Molo, while the Ganzons were holding the burial rites for their father.
Anape, 37, who had a much-publicized rift with her stepchildren, was not able to see her husband's remains since it was forcibly taken out of the hospital by the Ganzons hours after he died last Wednesday.
Iloilo City Councilor Joshua Alim, Anape's legal counsel, said his client attempted to show up at the cemetery Monday but he advised her against it. Freeman also warned Anape against going to the burial rites.
Iloilo City Mayor Jerry Treņas, who was among the local officials present at the funeral, reportedly called up Anape to advise her against coming.
Aside from Treņas, also present were Iloilo Gov. Niel Tupas Sr., City Councilors Antonio Pesina, Vicente Gengos, Eduardo Peņaredondo, Ma. Rita Bascos-Sarabia and former councilor Perla Zulueta. NLG
(November 4, 2003 issue)
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