photo by Jaydee Chan

A tribute to the late Ambassador and Leyte Governor Benjamin Kokoy Romualdez was held yesterday afternoon at the Sto. Nino Church.

phot by Ferdinand Martin Romuladez's FB account

It was a very solemn ceremony with representatives of RTRMF and DVOREF giving eulogies peppered with elegies.
I particularly admired Atty. Eduardo Polistico's speech. He highlighted the contributions of the Romualdez's to the growth and development of the province, turning it to the then bucolic to town to the bustling center it is today. Little did I know that the Visayas State University and the University of the Philippines in the Visayas Tacloban College, both echelons of education in the region were both fruits of their labor; including the Remedios T. Romualdez Medical Foundation and the Don Orestes Romualdez Educational Foundation.
Traveling from Leyte to Samar or vice versa was no simple feat twenty years ago. You need to take a banca ride through the dangerous waters. It was even considered as the narrowest strait in the world- the San Juanico's Strait. All thanks to the Romualdez's and the taxpayers money, we now have the San Juanico Bridge. One of the longest in Asia and a prominent tourist spot with a scenic view of the waters and the islands of Samar and Leyte.

In a melancholic and pensive state, the mourners lined up to offer white roses in the altar.

Why white roses in particular? White roses symbolizes purity, innocence and secrecy.
All flags in the province are flown half mast as a sign of mourning.

photo by wack tobacky

 The Romualdez' compound is just across our school, and here you can see lots of violet ribbons tied on trees and on the side mirrors of their shiny cars. Do you see something different here?

 A closer look after I sweet talked the guard to letting us in. Thanks Josh for tagging along with my craziness.
 Yep that's a chopper there!
 Poster's of 'We love you Kokoy' can be seen all around the city! Tomorrow, his body will be open to public viewing at around three on the afternoon at the Sto. Nino Church. This is immediately after my friend Lucy Yu and future Mrs. Tubio's wedding. I feel sorry for Lucy. Everything has to be sped up to accommodate Kokoy at 3.
Tomorrow, Kokoy's body will be flown back to Manila for the burial.
 This is Josh posing with the chopper!
 And moi who is uber satisfied with my good sleuthing skills. This chopper will take off tomorrow and fly above the float, throwing flowers into the air. What a sight to behold! I can't wait for tomorrow, no matter how toxic it will be!
 These cars are being washed, waxed and shined for tomorrows important guests. Even the hospital is being totally cleaned up! This is the first! The moss that used to cover its walls and stairs are now being scrubbed out! Rumor has it that Imelda Romualdez Marcos and Madame Juliet will be staying there.
Borgy will you be deigning us with your presence tomorrow?
 There seems to be free food here. Yum! yum! We have already been instructed to cross the street tomorrow for grubs at nine am.
xoxo,
ge-ann

A week ago, I was running low of my usual Olay Natural White Cream. I headed to Robinson's and they already ran out of it.