People continue to pay respect, bring flowers to Miriam Santiago’s grave

More than a month after her death, people from all walks of life continue to visit the grave of former Sen. Miriam Defensor-Santiago at the Loyola Memorial Park in Marikina City to pay respect and bring flowers.

Former Interior and Local Government Undersecretary Narciso “Jun” Santiago Jr., the late senator’s widower, said in an interview that his wife’s visitors arrived on their own as a family or as a group, coming from as far as the provinces of  Laguna and Quezon and would spend several minutes to pray and have their pictures taken with the tomb.

“I’m happy that people are still showing their love and affection for her,” Santiago told the Inquirer in an interview on Thursday.

He said daily visitors come from morning to night, the peak days being October 31, Nov. 1 and Nov. 2, when there were still visitors as late as 10 p.m.

On Nov. 1 alone, there were at least 200 visitors, some of them young people who said they missed Miriam’s “hugot” (pick-up) lines.

Santiago himself visits Miriam’s resting place every day to bring three fresh roses, pray, cry and embrace the tomb. The sight was enough to melt the heart of Charry Bicaldo, a houseboy for the Santiagos for nine years and  who now serves as the tomb’s caretaker.

“I really miss Miriam. Biro mo (Imagine) we were together and happily married for more than 50 years. Now, suddenly she’s gone. It’s difficult to live without her,” Santiago said.

Miriam was laid to rest next to their son Alexander Robert, who died in 2003.
Santiago, a feisty public official best remembered for her eloquence and legal prowess, died on September 29, 2016, after a long bout with lung cancer.  TVJ

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