With good deeds and good examples, one will always be remembered.
This is how Cebu Archbishop Jose Palma paid tribute to the late Capt. Jessup Bahinting in his homily during Mass offered yesterday at the Metropolitcan Cebu Cathedral for the pilot, Interior Secretary Jesse Robredo and the Nepalese co-pilot Kshitz Chad who perished in Saturday’s plane crash in Masbate.
“We are doing this because we want to recognize what the Secretary has done. We want to profess a very exemplary government leader and indeed a servant in the true and highest meaning of the word,” said the prelate, who hailed Robredo and Bahinting as “great men” worthy emulating.
Robredo was a Catholic devotee of Naga’s Our Lady of Peñafrancia.
Bahinting was a pastor of a Christian fellowship church, Grace Communion International. Chad, who will be cremated in Nepal, was Hindu.
Bahinting’s widow and two daughters, listened intently to the archbishop’s words in the front pew where they sat with Cebu City Mayor Michael RAma. Margarita, the pilot’s widow, was moved to tears in the homily.
“We thank the Lord because we have these people who are worthy of emulation,” said Palma, who approached the family after Mass to extend his condolences.
“Physically they may no longer be with us but they will always be present in our minds and hearts because of their good example.”
At 10 a.m. today, the Cebu city government will confer a posthumous “Life Savers” award to Bahinting at the St. Peter’s Funeral Homes .
Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama said P100,000 cash aid will also be allocated for the family’s burial expenses.
After the awarding, Rama will head to Manila to attend the Liberal Party (LP) service for Robredo whose wake is ongoing at the Kalayaan Hall of Malacañang.
The Mass in the Cebu Cathedral was arranged by the Regional Development Council in Central Visayas.
It was co-celebrated by Bishop Ranolla and Mgr. Roberto Alesna.
A photo of the late Secretary Robredo was placed near the choir section of the cathedral during the mass.Chief of Reporters Doris C. Bongcac