Bicolanos remember 2 sentinels

NAGA CITY—The tombs of Raul S. Roco and Jesse M. Robredo are just across each other in Barangay Balatas here and at the edges of two of the largest cemeteries that they seem to be sentinels for the rest of the departed in the city that remembers its two beloved sons like hometown heroes on All Souls’ Day.

Both from Naga, Roco and Robredo also died in August—Roco in 2005 and Robredo just this year. Roco’s grave is in Sto. Niño Memorial Park while that of Robredo is in Eternal Gardens Memorial Park, about 750 meters apart.

Both tombs were visited not just by family members but even those who never had the chance to meet them in person.

Danny Sumayao, 54, had not been in Naga for almost 20 years. On Aug. 21, the day he returned and decided to stay for good, Robredo’s body was recovered three days after the fatal plane crash on Aug. 19 in the waters off Masbate City and was brought home to the city.

On Thursday, he stayed for a few minutes at Robredo’s tomb after visiting that of his departed brother, who was buried in the same cemetery. “Robredo is that kind of person who is hard to forget,” he added.

But if there are persons who would find Robredo even hard to forget, it would be his wife, Leni, and his three children—Aika, Tricia and Jillian.

“We had been so used to going around different cemeteries and visiting different families. This year, we [will] spend most of Nov. 1 [at the cemetery]. We want to be around to thank people who visit him,” said Aika, Robredo’s eldest daughter.

Aika said her father could be in a peaceful and happy place now. “But there are moments when we feel that he is still here with us and guiding us,” she said.

She said they have been busier now, trying to accommodate invitations that want to pay tribute to Robredo.

If he had his way, Aika said he would have wanted people to remember Robredo more as a good father than as a dedicated public servant.

“He would always say he is a father first before anything else… I also think that his being a good father enabled him to be… a good mayor and secretary,” she said.

Senior Inspector June Paolo Abrazado, Robredo’s security aide, who survived the crash, also said moving on from the death of his boss was hard. He visited Robredo’s tomb on Nov. 1.

Bicolanos also are not forgetting Roco. Tarpaulins commemorating the day were all over the cemetery where Roco’s remains are.

Manuel Teoxon, head of the Jesse Robredo Movement, said Roco was one of the great Bicolanos.