Funeral rites set for FPJ, Burial scheduled on Dec. 22 Options

[Ek-ek]

Funeral rites set for FPJ
Burial scheduled on Dec. 22 at North Cemetery Widow shows strength & inner peace

(IMG:http://www3.mb.com.ph/db_images/headlines/susan1103031212.jpg)

SUSAN ROCES THANKS THRONGS OF SUPPORTERS
Susan Roces, wife of movie icon Fernando Poe Jr., tearfully thanks the throngs of supporters who gathered in front of Arlington Memorial Chapel in Pasig City where the body of the movie king was brought from the hospital. It will lie at the Sto. Domingo Church in Quezon City until burial on Dec. 22 at the North Cemetery. (Ali Vicoy)

By BRENDA PIQUERO TUAZON


Mourning for movie icon and highly-popular opposition leader Fernando Poe, Jr. cut across all social strata, from the posh Makati villages which divorced themselves in his campaign for the presidency, to the nation’s heartland where he touched so many lives, and where FPJ’s greatest strength lay.


FPJ’s widow, movie queen Susan Roces, said the family has tentatively set burial rites on December 22 at the North Cemetery in Manila where he will be buried side by side with his father, the late Fernando Poe, Sr., himself a movie legend of his time.

Mrs. Poe said that in recognition of the desire of her husband’s millions of admirers and friends, the family had decided to have the body lie at the Sto. Domingo Church in Quezon City where they may pay their last respects to him for one week until Dec. 22.

Widely perceived by most Filipinos to come closest to being President of the country in the May 10 elections, FPJ had shunned public appearances, and after he contested the results of the electoral race by filing a complaint before the Presidential Electoral Tribunal, kept his silence.

The much loved movie king almost made it to Malacanang in one of the narrowest electoral races to the No. 1 position of the land, and in an election made controversial by a highly politically charged electoral canvassing of votes by Congress.

Stoic to the end, Mrs. Poe was calm and at peace, when her husband of 36 years, breathed his last as she and their daughter, Mary Grace, embraced each other.

"It is God’s will, and we must accept it," Mrs. Poe said moments after her husband passed away as she and daughter Mary Grace clung to each other.

She added that her consolation "is that Ronnie (FPJ) had touched so many, many lives especially among the poorest of the poor and brought hope and help to many of his fellow workers in the movie industry and to those who make their living by it."

Their daughter Mary Grace, arriving from Virginia with her youngest daughter who was born barely a month ago here in the Philippines, raced to the St. Luke’s Medical Center in Quezon City from the airport.

She missed seeing her father alive by a few minutes.

A pall of gloom cast across the country within hours after FPJ’s death, described by millions of friends and admirers as "a sad day for the country," aired nationwide over radio and television networks who held special "breaking news" bulletins that lasted into the early hours yesterday morning.

Felled by a fatal stroke Saturday evening that left him in a coma, the movie king was officially declared dead at 12:01 a.m. yesterday by Dr. Abdias Aquino, FPJ’s attending neurologist, in the bosom of his loved ones.

Officially confirming FPJ’s death, Dr. Aquino told news reporters at 2 a.m. Tuesday that he was sad to announce that "FPJ passed away at 12:01 this morning despite aggressive, resuscitative and therapeutic measures."

At the St. Luke’s Medical Center, sources told the Bulletin that they have never seen such a mammoth turn-out of friends and admirers who camped in the premises non-stop since FPJ’s fatal stroke, praying and lighting candles. The same sources said that it was such a huge crowd that took almost a hundred policemen to strengthen the hospital’s private security force control the crowd.

A multi-awarded actor, director and producer, FPJ left behind him a legacy that will be difficult to follow after having touched the lives of millions of poor Filipinos in more ways than one "in his own lowprofile way" that never saw the light of day in any media organization.

Standing at the top of local cinema’s totem pole since his film debut in the early 1950’s, FPJ, until his death had made about 200 films, most of them blockbusters.

The second of six children, and born Ronald Allan to parents Fernando Poe, Sr. and Bessie Kelly, FPJ emerged to be his siblings’ second father after Poe, Sr., at the height of his own popularity as a movie star, succumbed to tetanus while his second son was still in high school.

Orphaned at an early age, FPJ dropped out of high school to work, first as a messenger and other menial jobs before finally trying his luck in the movies mainly to support his widowed mother, brothers and sisters.

It was in his early days in the movies that FPJ met another aspiring actor, Joseph Ejercito Estrada, who was to become his best friend for decades and who, some 40 years later after would emerge as the duly-elected President of the country.

Estrada, to this day, gives FPJ full credit for having largely helped him in that year’s electoral campaign to win the 1998 elections with an unprecedented 11.8 million votes, the largest margin ever in the country’s electoral history.

On the eve of FPJ’s passing away, his widow had accepted the fate of her husband.

As her husband lay in a coma, she had said she was prepared "to wait in hope and faith knowing that there is always a reason for every season, and when seasons change, God will always stand by me."

In complete peace with God, Mrs. Poe had bowed to His will while reminding herself of one of her favorite prayers that says: "In every highway of life, everyone must go through a tunnel of pain and sorrow before one can travel on the high road of triumph and joy."


PNP creates ‘Task Force Da King’


The Philippine National Police (PNP) has doubled its security measures as it created "Task Force Da King" aimed at ensuring peace and security during the wake of Fernando Poe Jr., at the Sto. Domingo church on Quezon Ave., Quezon City.

Central Police District Office (CPDO) director, Senior Supt. Nicasio Radovan Jr., said that in anticipation of the thousands of people who will flock to the church to view the remains of the actor, some 10 mobile units, two teams of foot patrol policemen, and a contingent from the Civil Disturbance Management (CDM) group of the CPDO have been deployed in the area.

The CPDO – Explosives and Ordnance Division (EOD) led by its chief, Senior Insp. Nelvin Ricohermoso, was also tasked to conduct paneling at the Sto. Domingo church, while a communications van was also sent by National Capital Regional Police Office (NCRPO) chief, Director Avelino Razon Jr., to serve as the PNP ‘s command post.

Radovan said plainclothes policemen were also assigned to monitor unscrupulous individuals such as pickpockets, bukas-kotse gang members, hold-up men and others who might attempt to victimize those who will troop to FPJ’s wake.

The CPDO director said that particular attention will be given especially at the parking area, while there will be medical teams on stand by. All gates of the Sto. Domingo church will also be manned and a police assistance center will be set-up inside the vicinity of the church.

Radovan added that they would exercise tolerance over the traffic disturbance that may be created by the late action star’s fans and supporters even as he appealed to the public to stay calm and just wait for their turn to view the remains of FPJ, or better yet just say a prayer for him. (Elena L. Aben)


Policemen deployed at Arlington in Pasig


Hundreds of friends and supporters of Fernando Poe Jr. went to the Arlington Funeral Services in Pasig City as early as 5 a.m. to take a glimpse of their idol who passed away yesterday.

Chief Supt. Oscar Valenzuela, district director of the Eastern Police District, ordered the deployment of police near the vicinity of the funeral parlor to ensure security.

A security guard of the funeral parlor said Sharon Cuneta was among those who immediately went to Arlington around 6:30 a.m. after learning of the news that FPJ passed away. Pasig City Councilor Fortunato "Atoy" Co also dropped by the Arlington.

A number of actors and actresses onboard tinted cars were seen.

It was gathered that the Arlington Funeral Services owner is a close friend of the Poe family.

Bong Napiza, Arlington director, said they have prepared a special service for the action king.

Media people, supporters, fans, and kibitzers just stayed outside the funeral parlor as requested by the Poe family for some quiet and private moments with the movie king.

Despite the noon heat, supporters waited patiently outside as they prepared themselves to join the Poe family in the journey to the Sto. Domingo Church in Quezon City where the late action king’s wake will be held.

Valenzuela said the deployment of traffic personnel in the area is expected to result to a smooth traffic flow. (Madelynne Dominguez)


Cebuano allies, supporters mourn FPJ death


CEBU CITY ­ Cebuano political allies and supporters of the late Fernando Poe Jr. mourned the untimely demise of the popular action star and presidential bet, who died past midnight yesterday.

While Cebu has been considered a political bailiwick of President Arroyo, Cebuanos yesterday set aside political colors and together mourned the shocking news of FPJ’s death.

Poe died more than 48 hours after suffering a stroke Saturday night. He was 65.

His attending doctor Abdias Aquino confirmed Poe’s death in an announcement made past 1:30 a.m. yesterday.

Former Cebu City Mayor Alvin Garcia, who ran and lost in the city mayoralty race under Poe’s party in the last election, said he was saddened by the death of a man "who was so humble and so sincere in his desire to serve the country".

Alvin recalled that he never noticed anything bad about Poe’s health at the height of the campaign, the reason why he was surprised at the news.

Former city councilor George Rama, a close friend of the movie star, said he came to know of Poe’s death from his sister, Annabelle, who telephoned him.

"I really never thought this would happen to him (FPJ)," Rama said, adding that Poe might be over-fatigued, which could have triggered the stroke.

Dolores Mapa, 54, a Cebuano supporter, said she had been praying ever since Poe was confined at the St. Luke’s Medical Center. His death saddened her so much she said she was not able to eat breakfast after learning of what happened to her movie idol.

"This is a very sad news. A good man deserves to live longer," the old woman said in Cebuano. (Mars W. Mosqueda Jr.)


A soft-hearted man, Muslims say of FPJ


ZAMBOANGA CITY - Supporters of the movie king Fernando Poe Jr. yesterday expressed deep sadness after learning that their idol whom they supported in the last presidential election died of stroke in a Quezon City hospital early yesterday morning.

Muslim and Christian residents of this city and the nearby provinces of Basilan, Sulu and Tawi-Tawi Most jointly expressed their condolences to the family of Poe yesterday.

They described Poe as a soft hearted man who understood the misery and deprivation in the lives of poor people in southern Philippines.

"We consider him as part of the family and not just an idol. That’s why we supported him to the fullest, unfortunately he failed to make it for the presidency during the last elections," a resident of Jolo in Sulu province said.

Nur Ahamad, 28, married and a native of Bongao, Tawi-Tawi failed to hold on to her tears as she mentioned about the untimely death of their idol.

Majority of Muslims in Mindanao loved Poe for his kindness to them as they described him as a "man for the poor and the oppressed." (Nonoy E. Lacson