About 6,000 people, many carrying torches and some teary eyed, lined a 200 meter-stretch of the road and filled the St. Mary Magdalene Church in Hinigaran to welcome the remains of Rep. Ignacio “Iggy” Arroyo Jr. last night.

Some carried placards saying “Congressman Iggy Arroyo we love you”, “Your love and support is our inspiration,” “Thank you for all your help”, while a streamer from the Madeleine Academy said “You will forever be in our hearts”.

On the arrival of the casket at the church for a two-day wake, Fr. Greg Patiño blessed it in liturgical rites, after which residents of the fifth district of Negros Occidental that Arroyo had served for three terms formed a single line as they filed past his coffin to pay their last respects.

Arroyo died in London on January 26 after a long battle with cirrhosis of the liver. He was 61.

His remains arrived on board a Philippine Airlines flight at the Bacolod Silay Airport at past 6 last night accompanied by his long-time partner Grace Ibuna, her children and his daughters Bianca and Dina from his first wife, Marilyn Jacinto. His brother Mike and sister Marilou arrived shortly after on board a private place.

His second wife Aleli Arroyo and other daughter, Alelu, are expected to join the wake in Hinigaran today.

Close friends of the congressman and fifth district mayors and officials were at the airport to meet his remains.

Board Melvin Ibañez, who has been helping with the arrangements for the wake, said about 40 vehicles joined a caravan that accompanied the congressman’s hearse to Hinigaran.

A weeping Ibuna said she was happy the congresswoman was home. “This is what he wanted, he loved the people in his district.”

She said Iggy called friends in the Philippines to tell them that he was better and was coming home, his death came so suddenly.

“Until now it has not sank that the Lord has taken Iggy away, it’s hard,” she said, to imagine life without him.

“Pray for our family. Keep praying for Congressman Iggy Arroyo, he was a good man and his heart belonged to the district,” Ibuna added.

Bianca Arroyo said her father was “a very kind loving man, he was quiet and shy but was full of love. He really loved the people of Negros…I am very proud of the work that he has done for the district. I know he wanted to do what he could to make a difference in people’s lives.”

She said if she could be the kind of person her father was, she would be happy.

“He taught us how to be humble, to be generous and how to work hard for what we want in life,” Bianca said.

Dina Arroyo Tantoco, the congressman’s other daughter, said “he was such a kind and loving father he always found joy in being with his children, being with people, seeing people happy and making them happy.”

He is still continuing to teach us even after his death, she said.

“My brother was always very supportive, we never fought. We love him very much and miss him,” Mike Arroyo said.

The former first gentleman said he talked to Iggy the Saturday before he died and he had said he was getting well.

Marilou Arroyo Lesaca said her brother was a good man, he was very patient and he helped people no matter what their station in life was.

She said the last time she talked to Iggy he told her he would be coming home soon.

AT THE HOUSE

Members of the House of Representatives paid their last respects to Ignacio Arroyo at the Batasan Pambansa yesterday morning.

Aleli Arroyo, was seated in the session hall area reserved for family members, while Ibuna and her companions sat at the gallery.

A mass was held and a necrological service, where Aleli Arroyo said “My husband was not only a public servant but the love of my life. I will always remember him as a good member of the House.”

Ibuna when asked if reports from Manila were true that she walked out when Aleli was speaking, said “I did not, I just went to pee, if that’s a sin I confess.”

OFFICIALS

Gov. Alfredo Marañon Jr. and Vice Governor Genaro Alvarez Jr., who described Arroyo as a good man, said they would visit his wake tomorrow night.

Arroyo’s remains will be flown back to Manila at 6 a.m. Thursday for a continuation of his wake at his family’s ancestral home in La Vista, Quezon City.

He will be laid to rest beside his mother at the Manila North Cemetery on Friday morning.*CPG

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