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Editorial

The need to be prepared

Daily Star logo
Published by the Visayan Daily Star Publications, Inc.
NINFA R. LEONARDIA
Editor-in-Chief & President

CARLA P. GOMEZ
Editor

GUILLERMO TEJIDA III
Desk Editor
PATRICK PANGILINAN
Busines Editor

NIDA A. BUENAFE

Sports Editor
RENE GENOVE
Bureau Chief, Dumaguete
MAJA P. DELY
Advertising Coordinator

CARLOS ANTONIO L. LEONARDIA
Administrative Officer

So many happenings are taking place in the world today that all stress the need – and the importance – of being prepared. And we are not talking only about disasters and natural calamities that, of course, should also get our attention and concern. There are many other things in life for which we must make preparations and provisions if only to save our loved ones from undue anguish and grief.

We are referring to the case of the late Congressman Ignacio Arroyo of the Fifth District of Negros Occidental who died last week in London where he had been undergoing treatment for a very serious ailment. Arroyo had been in London for several months now, and had missed a lot of the sessions of Congress because of his treatment. He was reportedly upbeat about his chances for recovery when he died suddenly of cardiac arrest.

Of course Congressman Arroyo would have preferred to have his remains brought home for interment in his native country. He was a patriotic, family loving man, who probably never entertained the idea of being held in a foreign country after his death.

One thing he did not anticipate or prepare for was the possibility that a controversy would arise over his repatriation among people claiming to be his loved ones, concerned only for his welfare. Two women are fighting over the right to bring him home, one his legal wife, and the other, yes, the “other woman”. Even his own kin, his siblings and children, are drawn into the conflict that has stayed unresolved for 13 days now.

This is problem that could have been averted, had he thought of, and accomplished, if not a will, at least written instructions on who would be in charge of his remains, in case his ailment claims his life.

And this should give a lesson to all other husbands, and maybe even wives, who live complicated marital lives.*

Email: visayandailystar@yahoo.com