Osmeña matriarch laid to rest

CEBU, Philippines - Lourdes de la Rama-Osmeña was taken to her final resting place yesterday.

The family bade farewell to the matriarch at the Doña Pepang Osmeña mausoleum where five of her children gathered together for the first time to take a last glimpse of their mother, whom they described as a “simple” woman.

It was also in the mausoleum where her five children - Sergio “Serge” Osmeña III, Maria Victoria “Minnie” Osmeña, Esteban “Stevie” Osmeña, Tomas Osmeña and Georgia Osmeña – are seen all together at one place and had their photos taken.

The 98-year-old Mrs. Osmeña succumbed to multiple organ failure secondary to sepsis, and acute respiratory failure secondary to pneumonia at the Pablo O. Torre Memorial Hospital in Bacolod City last Nov. 6.

Though she was not visible publicly compared to her husband and two sons, national political figures like Vice President Jejomar Binay and his son, Makati Mayor Junjun Binay and former congressman Teodoro Locsin paid respect to the wife of the late senator Sergio Veloso Osmeña Jr. and daughter of the late senator Esteban de la Rama.

The service at the Sacred Heart Church started at 10:00 a.m. and lasted more than one-hour including the eulogy.

Inside the church, sisters Minnie and Georgia, who were wearing black dress, were seated beside each other at the right side while Tomas sat in the front row, at the left side along with his wife Margot and son, Miguel. Senator Serge was seated also in the left side at the fourth row.

Esteban, who arrived almost 30 minutes late, failed to give his eulogy since his brothers and sisters were not aware that he was present during the service. He stood at the right side of the door until the service ended.

In a eulogy, the youngest child of Mrs. Osmeña, Georgia recalls that her mother was very “private” and loved her children so much.

Minnie, for her part, said all mothers in the world mean well for their children even if they have some misunderstandings. She recalls that her father would tell them they are fortunate to have a mother. Serging was an orphan at the age of one, Minnie said.

“Today, we pay our last respect to the most important person in our life – our mother,” Minnie said. She thanked her mother for the beautiful years that she has given and the lessons that taught them.

“Don’t worry, it will all sink in us as we go through the different experiences of our life and I’m sorry for all my shortcomings,” Minnie said as she broke into tears.

Tomas, for his part, thanked all those who were with them in their time of sorrow, especially the urban poor and the senior citizens, even if they have not met her mother personally.Serge said his mother never liked politics and would only go to Cebu two days before the elections to vote. According to the senator, his mother was more concerned about the legacy his father gave for her to take care of - their farms.

While he did not give his eulogy, Esteban after the service viewed the body of her mother, crying. He was comforted by her sister, Minnie.

Her coffin was carried out the church at almost 12:30 in the afternoon. Close friends and relatives of the Osmeña family said a short prayer in the mausoleum, afterwhich photos were taken of the five siblings.

The Osmeña mausoleum was built in 1924. It contains the tombs of the deceased members of the Osmeña-Veloso clan. The tombs are located in an underground crypt. Lourdes was placed in front of her husband’s grave. (FREEMAN)