‘Go ahead, demonstrate vs Marcos burial at Libingan’

MARKED STONES Jalandoni Oliveros, founder of Pinoy Reads Pinoy Books, inserts in a tree trunk stones marked with names of people killed during the Marcos dictatorship near the mass graves for heroes of World War II at Libingan ng mga Bayani in Taguig City. LYN RILLON

The body of Marcos, who died in exile in Hawaii, is encased in a glass casket inside a temperature-controlled mausoleum at the family ancestral home in Batac, Ilocos Norte province.

Full military honors

The family has demanded that Marcos be buried at Libingan with full military honors. Many Ilocanos, including those helping out with the long-delayed funeral rites, have expressed mixed feelings about the burial.

Rosalia Baysac, 81, said Marcos’ remains had kept her city alive for decades. The mausoleum in Batac has made the city a top tourist destination.

“We are blessed for having a great Ilocano leader like him. It makes me sad though that we may no longer see him should his body be taken to Libingan,” Baysac said.

Arrangements are now being made for the burial in Manila.

It is customary for Ilocanos to bring their dead home, so the Marcos remains will be taken to Sarrat town, his birthplace. His casket will be carried to Santa Monica Parish Church, the largest church in Ilocos Norte, which former first lady and now Ilocos Norte Rep. Imelda Marcos helped restore after it was destroyed by a strong earthquake.

Fr. Carlito Ranjo Jr. of Santa Monica Parish said he expected Marcos’ remains to arrive at 7:30 a.m. on Sept. 15 for Mass. A 24-hour prayer vigil will follow.

Prayers will be offered every hour by designated representatives of towns as well as by residents who may wish to pay their last respects to the “beloved son of Ilocos Norte,” Ranjo said.

After the overnight vigil in Sarrat, Marcos’ remains will be taken to St. Augustine Church, a World Heritage site, in Paoay town on Sept. 16 for Mass and prayer vigil.

The funeral comes after Marcos’ 99th birthday on Sept. 11, and the Marcos family is taking pains to make his last birthday celebration at home equally memorable for Ilocanos and his supporters.

The National Union of Journalists of the Philippines has been circulating a petition from the group, Bantayog ng Mga Bayani, which urged Mr. Duterte to take back the order granting the late strongman a hero’s burial. With reports from Marlon Ramos and AFP