Burying a hero

It was a funeral filled with pomp and pageantry but somber, proud and composed. Such was the military funeral and burial rites for General Ernesto S. Mata, former Chief of Staff of the Philippines, Secretary of National Defense, Secretary General of the South East Asia Treaty Organization and, most of all, a war hero whose services during the war was devoted entirely Negros Island.

He was buried at the Libingan ng mga Bayani in Taguig in a plot reserved for Secretaries of National Defense and just behind the memorial to the Unknown Soldier where the Philippine Flag flew at half mast as all other flags in military camps.

The funeral was on Tuesday, March 6, four days after he passed away quietly, slipping in his sleep, like a good soldier who, in the words of another great soldier whom Mata served, General Douglas MacArthur, they “never die they just fade away” into the sunset.

I was invited by Nene Rojas to attend the wake and the burial. Mata was a close friend of Don Paco Rojas and used to stay with them during and even after the war whenever Mata was here. I tagged along because of the help I extended in my research that finally convinced, after over 60 years, the United States that Mata served during the war and the documents I got from the US National Archives proved his war record. To this extent, we became his “adopted” sons and he told me so when he embraced me to thank me for proving his war services.  

When we joined his 95th birthday November 5 the other year, he was happy that in the end he was recognized and vindicated. Since I was going anyway, Governor Alfredo Marañon asked that I extend the condolences of the province aside from the earlier flowers that he sent. The governor had visited him during his birthday to give him the plaque of recognition and honor and gratitude of the province.

The funeral services began with a Mass at the St. Ignatius de Loyola church inside Camp Aguinaldo where his nephew, General Prospero Mata Ocampo delivered the sole eulogy for that day. General Ocampo described Mata as a soldier whose work ethic defined his character which is discipline, fairness and commitment to duty. Ingrained in him too was the long gray line’s motto of courage, integrity and loyalty.” The guerrilla war in Negros from 1941-1945 testifies to the character of this man.

After the blessings, his remains were carried before a composite battalion of the four major services of the Armed Forces of the Philippines – army, navy, air force and marines in their formal uniforms. Six generals of the major services in dress uniform flanked him as honorary pall bearers while the pall bearers of enlisted personnel carried his coffin on their shoulders. It was covered with the Philippine flag. As his coffin was brought before the commander of the honor battalion, the AFP band played the emotion-filled, stirring music, “Nearer, my God to Thee.” Tears were shed in silent dignity.

When the battalion had presented arms and the ruffles and flourishes played, the cannons boomed 19 times in salute. He was brought by funeral car in an almost two-hour trip to the Libingan. His hearse stopped about a hundred meters from the Libingan’s mausoleum and the escorts accompanied his coffin carried on the shoulders of enlisted pall bearers while the generals, as honorary bearers, marched along side. The Military Host, Major General de la Cruz escorted Mrs. Angelina Mata as they marched to the arrival area and stayed alongside her throughout until she left the Libingan.

 Arrival honors were rendered by a battalion of army soldiers in the Revolutionary Army uniform after which his coffin was placed on a caisson, a gun carriage bedecked with white roses. We walked behind with generals of assorted services, retired military officers and enlisted personnel from the four services. A helicopter flew overhead and dropped rose petals of white and red. 

The caisson stopped behind the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier and the coffin taken down by the pall bearers for a slow walk of fifty meters to the burial ground and placed on its stand. The Army chaplain commenced the prayers and then final viewing which was well ordered in sequence, no hustling.

Mrs. Mata closed the casket that was brought over the open tomb, flag held over the casket, the drums began their sorrowful beat, the Taps played and the 21-rifled salute fired. The flag was folded and the Military Host gave it to Mrs. Mata. The alumni sang their Philippine Military Academy song and the casket was lowered, then covered with red canvass. The master of ceremonies declared the ceremonies  over and we retired for lunch. The burial, in keeping with military tradition,  was done at high noon.*

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