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Monday, September 03, 2007
For the last time, crowds show up for Inday Nita
CEBU CITY -- More than her role during the Martial Law years, Nenita "Inday Nita" Daluz was remembered for her pro-poor causes and her efforts in seeking truth and justice for the poor and voiceless.
Hundreds paid their last respects to Inday Nita before her burial Sunday, mostly people who worked with her and received help from her through her public service programs and various advocacies.
Online memorial for Cebu's Nenita "Inday Nita" Daluz. Post testimonials here.
That she was a "champion of the poor" and a person of influence was evident in the crowd that gathered during the necrological service and the burial: government officials, former politicians, urban poor, religious groups, priests, lawyers, doctors and her colleagues in the media.
"The people know her for the things she did during Martial Law, but her principles did not end there. What people might not know is that she had deeper beliefs than just fighting the dictatorship. She fought for truth and justice, she fought for the poor and protected their rights," said Sen. Aquilino Pimentel Jr. in his eulogy.
Pimentel and Inday Nita fought the Marcos dictatorship together. He would later become the interior and local government secretary of the Aquino administration, with Inday Nita appointed as undersecretary.
"Her causes were not superficial, there was a deeper meaning in what she believed in. When she saw that the poor had no houses to live in, no food and medicines, she stood up for them and pushed the government to do something," the senator added.
Inday Nita died of cardiac arrest last Wednesday morning, months after suffering from heart and kidney failure. She was 68.
The knowledge she imparted to the listeners of her radio talent and advice shows and to her children was also remembered during the service that followed the mass at the Redemptorist Church at 2 p.m. Sunday.
Cebu City Mayor Tomas Osmeña and his family, Vice Mayor Michael Rama, Reps. Antonio Cuenco and Raul del Mar, city councilors and city officials, former government officials and politicians also attended the service.
Pimentel, Rep. Antonio Cuenco, the Redemptorist priests and fellow advocates of democracy paid tribute to Inday Nita, particularly for her advocacy against "narcopolitics".
For them, Inday Nita was an icon of courage, democracy, truth and justice.
"We're just happy to know that her sufferings have ended and that she lived a very colorful and meaningful life. She has contributed a lot to society and I'm glad that people remember her for it," Cebu City Councilor Jose Daluz III said of his mother.
Amid all the threats to her life and her children, Inday Nita did not cower from her advocacies and continued to organize rallies against martial law and the influence of drug money on politics.
And all those years, Inday Nita did not stop being a supportive and caring mother, the councilor said.
Daluz recalled what probably were some of the darkest days for his mother, when they got death threats when Inday Nita openly fought "narcopolitics" and helped expose several drug cases.
"That was worse than the Martial Law years because our family was singled out," he said.
"We will surely miss Mommy and we thank the Lord for giving us a mother like her. Our family is lucky to have had her as a mother, and how she acted as a mother to other people," added Daluz.
He thanked all the people who offered prayers when Inday Nita was still in the hospital and those who condoled with their family.
Inday Nita was laid to rest at the Queen City Gardens yesterday afternoon. (LCR of Sun.Star Cebu)
For more Philippine news, visit Sun.Star Manila. (September 3, 2007 issue)
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