MV ST Thomas Aquinas Mass burial ceremony all set

CEBU, Philippines - Preparations for the mass burial ceremony this September 25 for the remaining unidentified fatalities of the ill-fated MV St. Thomas Aquinas are already in place.

Luz Torrevillas, 2GO Passage Manager for Central Visayas, said they have already been working on the program as well as on the construction of the temporary graves for the casualties, which is almost halfway done.

“Everything is set na for September 25. We will start sending invitations hopefully within the day (Friday). We will be also tapping local radio, TV stations and print media in Cebu, Butuan and Surigao for the announcement of the mass burial. By Monday, during our meeting with mayor, we will be giving the invites na sa media. Mass will start at 8am,” she added.

As to the program flow, Cosmopolitan Funeral Homes said they are polishing the content as of yesterday.

The program initially included the presence of Vice President Jejomar Binay but Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama yesterday told reporters he has not talked to his political ally.

“Lisud kaayo i-contact si VP Binay karon. But we will know during our meeting on Monday at the command conference (It’s hard to contact VP  Binay now. But we will know during our meeting on Monday at the command conference),” Rama said.

Apart from Rama, also expected to attend the funeral at the Carreta cemetery are mayors from Talisay City, Cordova town, Lapu-Lapu City, Mandaue City, and Provincial Government officials.

For the apartment-type mass burial set-up, Torrevillas said it is almost done.

“As of this (Friday) morning during our visit sa site, naa nata sa mga 30 percent completion. We target to finish construction by Sunday and a little finishings by Monday. After that, curing na sa cement. This is based on the account of the construction workers at the site whom we talked to this morning,” Torrevillas said.  â€”/ATO(FREEMAN)