Board Member Yoly Daan dies

CEBU, Philippines — The Philippine flag at the Cebu Provincial Capitol was on half-staff starting yesterday, as the province mourns the loss of First District Provincial Board (PB) Member Yolanda “Yoly” Daan.

Talisay City Councilor Lester Daan, the board member’s son, confirmed his mother’s passing early yesterday morning. She was 72.

“No more pain Ma. I just find solace that you are now with papa,” said the city councilor in his social media account.

In his post, he mentioned how his mother supported him during the filing of his certificate of candidacy last month, despite being ill.

“Amidst your challenged health you went your way just to be with me when I filed for candidacy. Rest assured I will continue the cause we have been doing and we love doing, serving the people,” Lester wrote.

The Freeman tried to reach out to the city councilor, but there was no response as of press time.

In an interview with radio station dyHP, however, he revealed that Daan succumbed to a series of health complications, including bleeding in her large intestine, at 12:05 a.m. yesterday, All Saints’ Day.

He told radio host, Atty. Ruphil Bañoc, that the board member passed away at their residence after requesting to go home from the hospital where she had been admitted.

“Diri na sa balay, 12:05, diha na gyud siya, wala na gyud makaya niya,” said Lester.

The councilor recounted that when they got home at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 31, his mother’s condition was stable. However, later on, her blood pressure gradually began to drop.

He revealed that the doctor informed them that his mother could not undergo surgery to address the bleeding in her large intestine because of her weakened condition.

“Mao to nga ni (advice) nalang gyud ang doctor nga dili nalang gyud, ni-sign nalang ko og waiver niya nanguli nalang mi sa balay kay wala naman gyud, ang bleeding di naman muundang,” Lester said.

He said that during his mother’s 10-day stay in the hospital, she suffered complications that resulted to her contracting pneumonia.

The city councilor disclosed that doctors conducted an angiogram on his mother, which indicated that she could not undergo surgery.

“Nakita gyud didto ang iyang agi sa kana gani artery dili na gyud siya kalahos tungod sa kanipis sa iyang intestine,” Lester explained.

“Imbes mada pa unta tog tapak sa mga doctor dili naman siya makatapak kay layo naman kaayo mura man siya ni kurbada pa gyud ba ang katong artery diha ra gyud siya kutob,” he added.

Lester stated that doctors allowed them to take their mother home.

He also revealed that his mother had been undergoing dialysis three times a week since 2019.

“Pagkabugto ni papa, siyay nipuli. Hangtod karon, naabot gyud tawn siya’g 5 years,” he said.

Lester shared that the board member was unable to express her last words, but he conveyed a final message to her, reassuring her not to worry about the family. Lester has a brother who is abroad.

“Kami nalay bahala namo, kaming mag-igsuon kay wala na man si papa Ikaw, pahuway na kay grabe na kaayo imong pain,” Lester said.

“Pagkabugto niya akong gikuptan iyang kamot, mao to pagka-feel tingali niya nga nikupot ko niya, didto na wala na siya,” he added.

Lester announced that his mother's wake will take place at a funeral home on Imus St., Cebu City for four days. Her remains will then be transferred to their residence in Tabunok, Talisay City.

The family initially planned for Daan’s burial to be on Nov. 10, which is her 73rd birthday.

Effective immediately yesterday, Acting Governor Hilario “Junjun” Davide III signed a memorandum for the Capitol’s Philippine flag to fly at half-staff, as a sign of mourning.

Other officials in the province, as well as the constituents also took to social media to share their sadness over Daan’s passing.

Daan was the wife of the late Julian “Teban” Daan, a veteran radio personality and a former PB member and Talisay City councilor, who passed away due to heart failure on Aug. 21, 2019. (CEBU NEWS)