House members pays tribute to deceased colleagues, former lawmakers

MANILA, Philippines — Members of the House of Representatives on Friday paid tribute to colleagues and employees who passed away over the past months because of various reasons.

Speaker Lord Allan Velasco led the memorial service at the House’s plenary hall which was held to remember deceased colleagues who were not given the honors traditionally conferred on House members who passed away.

The House members paid tribute to the following lawmakers in the 18th Congress who passed away in the past months:

Former Benguet Rep. Nestor B. Fongwan
Former Camarines Sur 1st District Rep. Marissa Andaya
Former Senior Citizens Partylist Rep. Francisco G. Datol, Jr.
Former Sorsogon 2nd District Rep. Bernardita “Ditas” Ramos

Fongwan, who passed away in December 2019, was known as the “Action Man,” and served as Benguet governor for three terms from 2007 to 2016.

Meanwhile, Andaya succumbed to cancer in July this year. Her husband, former Rep. Rolando Andaya Jr., said the late congresswoman continued to do the rounds of the First District of Camarines Sur to check on her constituents when the coronavirus pandemic broke out.

Datol contracted the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) and passed away in August. Ramos likewise passed away in September after testing positive for the coronavirus.

“Ngayon ay panahon ng paggunita. Bagama’t tila nabago po ang mundo, gamitin po natin ang mga pagbabago sa ating kapakinabangan,” Velasco said in remembering the deceased lawmakers.

“At kung mayroong mang katangian ang bawat isang pinaparangalan ngayon, ito po ang kagustuhan nilang patuloy na maglingkod sa ating bayan hanggang sa kanilang huling hininga,” he added.

Majority Leader Martin Romualdez likewise remembered their former colleagues.

“It pains us to see their empty chairs in the plenary hall, but we are comforted by the fact that they fought valiantly against their illness in order to carry on with their unselfish devotion to public service,” Romualdez said.

“Our fallen comrades may be gone, but I am sure that their memories will linger on forever in the hearts and minds of those whose lives they had touched,” he added.

House members also paid tribute to former congressmen who also passed away:

Former Speaker and Camarines Sur Rep. Arnulfo ”Noli” P. Fuentebella;
Former Isabela Rep. Heherson Alvarez;
Former Malabon/Navotas Rep. Maria Teresa Aquino-Oreta;
Former Rizal Rep. Edgardo Ilarde;
Former Tarlac Rep. Eduardo Cojuangco, Jr.;
Former Ifugao Rep. Romulo Luma;
Former Pangasinan Rep. Amadeo Perez, Jr.;
Former Samar Rep. Milagrosa Tan;
Former Batangas Rep. Edgar Mendoza;
Former Manila Rep. Martin Isidro;
Former Cebu Rep. Antonio Cuenco;
Former Iloilo Rep. Arcadia Gorriecta;
Former COOP NATCCO Partylist Rep. Jose Ping-ay;
Former Negros Occidental Rep. Alfredo Marañon Jr.
Former Iloilo Rep. Augusto Syjuco Jr.;
Former 1-UTAK Partylist Rep. Zenaida De Castro-Maranan;
Former Basilan Rep. Elnorita Tugung;
Former Nueva Ecija Rep. Pacifico Fajardo; and
Former Sulu Rep. Yusop Jikiri

Likewise, the House members also paid tribute to 21 employees in the lower chamber who died due to illnesses directly or indirectly caused by COVID-19.