CONTRIBUTED PHOTO/Yacap Rep Carol Lopez
INTERIOR Secretary Mar Roxas visited his father’s tomb ahead of his anointment by President Benigno Aquino III as the administration’s standard-bearer for the 2016 presidential race.
According to his close friend Yacap Rep. Carol Jayne Lopez, Roxas went to the North Cemetery late Wednesday night to visit the graves of his grandfather former President Manuel Roxas, his father former Senator Gerry Roxas and his brother Dinggoy.
Roxas and Aquino’s friendship dates back to their fathers. Gerry Roxas was close with then Senator Benigno “Ninoy” Aquino Jr., who was assassinated under the Marcos dictatorship. Meanwhile, Mar’s grandfather former President Manuel Roxas is the founder of the Liberal Party (LP).
Lopez said Roxas went to visit his ancestors for discernment upon learning that he would get the President’s endorsement as the Liberal Party’s standard-bearer.
Lopez said she and at least six congressmen visited his house when they got word that Roxas would be endorsed by the President.
“So when we got to his house, we found out that he wanted to visit the graves of his lolo, father and brother at the North Cemetery. So we accompanied him. It was about 10:30 p.m. or 11 p.m.,” Lopez said.
Lopez said Roxas drove them to the North Cemetery. Accompanying them were Congressmen Bolet Banal, Kit Belmonte, Dan Fernandez, Alfred Vargas, Francis Gerald Abaya, Barry Gutierrez and Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao Governor Mujiv Hataman.
“We all rode in one van with Secretary Mar driving. He spent some solemn time praying and asking his loved ones for guidance and lakas ng loob. He probably shared with them the news regarding his endorsement. Alam mo naman tayong Pinoy, close family ties that even in death we talk to our loved ones,” Lopez said.
“He told us stories on how it was growing up, how his father brought them up and how he grieved when his brother Dinggoy died. You see his brother was and is his tender spot,” she added.
Lopez said the group left the North Cemetery after an hour and stayed for a while for “pagpag” to eat breakfast food in Tomas Morato, Quezon City, before going home around 1:30 a.m. Thursday.
“We learned that he really goes to visit the graves during times when he needs to make big and important decisions,” Lopez said.
Akbayan Rep. Gutierrez also confirmed the incident with Roxas.
“Yes, Sec Mar went late last night with a few of us. My understanding is, he simply wanted to spend time with his late brother, father and grandfather before the next few days unfold. Like so many of us Filipinos, I think he just wanted to commune with his departed loved ones on the eve of what will likely be a defining moment in his life and career,” Gutierrez said.
Roxas is set to be endorsed by Aquino as the LP’s presidential bet at Club Filipino, where Roxas who was then the LP’s presumptive 2010 presidential bet gave way to then Senator Aquino following the death of Aquino’s mother former president Corazon Aquino. It was also in Club Filipino where Cory Aquino was sworn in as President after the dictatorship of Ferdinand Marcos.