House honors ex-Speaker Nograles

MANILA, Philippines — House members and employees honored former Speaker Prospero Nograles, the first Mindanaoan Speaker of the chamber in a hundred years, as he returned to his “second home” on Tuesday.

Requiem Mass for former House Speaker Prospero Nograles begins here at the House of Reps' plenary hall. | @PathRoxasINQ pic.twitter.com/PyNp8MFu7u

— Inquirer (@inquirerdotnet) May 7, 2019

Nograles, 71, succumbed to “respiratory failure, secondary to pneumonia” on Saturday, his son, former Davao representative and now Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles, has said.

READ: Former House Speaker Prospero Nograles dies at 71

The former Davao 1st district congressman’s wife Rhodora Bendigo Nograles and children Dr. Kristine Elizabeth Nograles-Hugo, Karlo, PBA Rep. Jericho Jonas Nograles, and recent bar passer Margarita Ignacia Nograles survived him.

House officials and employees pay their last respect to former House Speaker Prospero Nograles following a requiem Mass at the Plenary Hall of the House of Representatives. INQUIRER.net photo / Pathricia Ann V. Roxas

Legacy

Retired Secretary-General Atty. Marilyn Yap recounted the reforms and legacies of Nograles as House Speaker from 2008 to 2010, such as establishing a continuing education program for secretariat personnel.

“He lived a full life in the service of our God, our country and our people,” Yap said during the necrological service at the House plenary hall, thanking Nograles for making her the first woman secretary general of the lower House.

It was under Nograles, stewardship that the House underwent its first comprehensive rehabilitation and upgrading, according to Yap. Nograles also initiated reforms to “improve institutional legislative performance” such as clearing legislative agenda per session, monitoring the status of bills, and tracking attendance and performance of congressmen, she added.

Former lawmaker and Foreign Affairs Sec. Alan Peter Cayetano, meanwhile, said Nograles’ speakership was “most productive” because of the “relationships he forged in this hall.” Cayetano described him as “the boy next door” Speaker, who was “always up” and would never let others feel down.

Cayetano said he also admired Nograles’ legacy of being a “reformist.”

“Si Speaker Nogie came in during very controversial times but hindi nawala sa kanya ‘yung pagiging reformist. If you look whether on his reforms sa committee system, ‘yung physical na pag-aayos ng Congress, giving emphasis to Mindanao, these are part of his legacy eh,” he added in an interview.

Speaker Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo also recounted how Nograles was always fond of singing the song “What a Wonderful World.”

“Yes, Boy, what a wonderful world you helped create with your friendship, with your work…” Arroyo said.

As Nograles came back to his “second home,” his son Rep. Jericho thanked his father for “cleaning” the House and ridding it of ghost employees, among others, when he was elected the House Speaker in 2008.

“Thank you for keeping the House clean and thank you for keeping the House professional,” the younger Nograles said.

A 1972 bar topnotcher and a 1985 TOYM Awardee for Law and Human Rights, Nograles became Speaker of the House on Feb. 5, 2008, 14th Congress, during the time of former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo. He was the chamber’s Majority Leader during the 13th Congress. The Ateneo Law graduate served as a congressman for 15 years.

President Rodrigo Duterte, his foe-turned-ally, visited him Sunday night.

READ: Duterte visits wake of ex-Speaker Nograles | Duterte condoles with family of late ex-Speaker, rival Nograles

Although Nograles’ wife and Duterte are cousins, the two families had opposed each other in the mayoralty and congressional race in Davao since 1992. In the latter part of 2015, the Nograles family decided to set aside their political rivalry with the Dutertes and supported then-Mayor Duterte’s bid for the presidency.

Sec. Karlo earlier said his father’s remains will be flown to Davao later as the former Speaker would also be laid to rest there on Sunday.  /jpv