By Leilanie G. Adriano
Staff reporter
LAOAG CITY—When Ferdinand E.
Marcos died in exile in Hawaii on September 28, 1989, his body was only flown
back to his homeland four years later. That time a planeload of Ilocanos went
home with him.
Though already back in the
country, the body of the former President remained unburied. And after 27
years, newly elected President Rodrigo R. Duterte allowed Mr. Marcos’ burial at
the Libingan ng mga Bayani with all the honors befitting a former President and
a soldier.
With the burial scheduled,
some Ilocanos in Hawaii are also scheduled to come home to the Philippines to
witness the burial. The Ilocanos are mostly the same as those who accompanied
Mr. Marcos body to the Philippines in 1993.
A native of Sarrat, Ilocos
Norte, Engr. Ric Agnes who heads the Marcos for Peace Movement (MPM) based in
Honolulu, Hawaii said they are delighted to know about the latest development.
“Ever since the passing of
the late President, it has always been the desire of Filipinos in Hawaii that
his remains be buried with full highest degree of honor given to a President
and war hero. For this reason, we are planning to come and attend as our
expression of respect to the highest degree as he will be laid to rest finally
at the Libingan,” Mr. Agnes said in a phone interview.
The MPM is an active group of
Marcos supporters in Hawaii who have long been pushing previous administrations
to allow the burial of Mr. Marcos at Libingan ng mga Bayani with full military
honors
From time to time or when the
issue of Mr. Marcos burial crops up, the group, composed of mostly Ilocano
migrants and professionals in Hawaii would organize peaceful rallies and
express support for the best interest of their homeland.
For Stanley Baluscang, a
licensed security officer in Hawaii, he said, “This is the perfect time in the
history of the Filipinos to bury our greatest late Philippine President
Ferdinand E. Marcos to the Libingan ng mga Bayani.” He said it is what he had
long prayed for so that the old man may finally rest in peace.
“I am very happy that Marcos,
a World War II veteran will now be buried at Libingan. He was not just an
ordinary soldier but a decorated officer. He deserved our greatest respect with
full military honors,” said Avelino Felicitas, 67, a former university
professor who migrated to Honolulu, Hawaii since 2008 after staying in Wapato,
Washington.
Silvino Bermisa, also a
Filipino migrant in Honolulu since 1974 said he takes pride in Mr. Marcos and
his leadership particularly in making the country’s economy one of the richest
during his time.
Rizal Fernandez who traces
his roots in Badoc, Ilocos Norte said that when the Marcos family was in exile,
he would join some friends and help in the crowd control of people visiting
their home in Makiki heights.
“There were times when we
would also sacrifice our time to work and join rallies for our beloved
president,” Mr. Fernandez added citing a huge number of Filipinos in Hawaii
made a lot of sacrifices to keep the Marcos family safe and at home during
their exile.
Given the chance and should
he not maximize his vacation leave, Mr. Fernandez said he would love to come
and see the former President buried at the Libingan.
Eddie Bueno who hails from
San Nicolas, Ilocos Norte and now residing in Hawaii with his family said there
were times before when they would also visit the Marcos family in their
Hawaiian home.
“We are happy for him [Mr.
Marcos]. With the firm decision of President Duterte to allow his burial at
Libingan, I guess there is no one that can stop it now,” Mr. Bueno said.
For the past 23 years,
mortician Frank Malabed succeeded in keeping the body of Marcos well-preserved
at the Batac mausoleum.
Every year, sources said Mr.
Malabed would visit the body and ensure proper maintenance of his
remains.
Over the years, Batac City
has maintained its steady influx of tourists probably drawing interest
for its best tasting empanada and out of curiosity of a man lying in a
refrigerated crypt.
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