Iggy is finally home in Negros Occidental

BACOLOD CITY, Philippines — As part of his last wishes, the remains of Rep. Ignacio “Iggy” Arroyo were brought Monday night to Hinigaran town, of Negros Occidental’s 5th district, for a three-day wake.

Grace Ibuna, the late congressman’s long-time partner who was with the same flight that transported Iggy’s remains from Manila to here, said it was Iggy’s last wish to have his body brought home to the 5th district he represented in Congress.

“Mahal nya lahat ng mga taga-5th district,” Ibuna tearfully told reporters upon arrival at the Bacolod-Silay Airport in Silay City. She was with Iggy’s daughters Bianca and Bernardina, and her children Gabrielle, Jolo and Rafaela and other members of the Arroyo family.

“We love him very much and I missed him. We have so many memories together,” said Mike Arroyo, Iggy’s elder brother who with sister Marilou arrived at the airport via private plane at about 6 p.m. that same night.

Ibuna said two weeks prior to his death in London on Jan. 26, Iggy had wanted her to come home to his district in Negros Occidental, but she decided against it because she did not want to leave him, and entrust him to others there. When asked what were Iggy’s last words to her, she did not answer reporters and just wept.

Former Provincial Board Member Enrique Miguel “Guding” Lacson said hundreds of Iggy’s supporters, carrying candles and torches, have lined up the streets in Hinigaran to welcome the remains of the late congressman, whose arrival was heralded by firecrackers.

Iggy’s wake is being held at the St. Mary Magdalene Church in Hinigaran. Parish priest Fr. Greg Patiño said a regular Mass will be held at 6 a.m today (Wednesday) and another at 6 p.m. to be attended by Negros Occidental officials, led by Governor Alfredo Marañon Jr. Sendoff rites will be held tomorrow at 3 a.m. before the remains will be flown back to Manila, he said.

On political plans, she said the matter is still not in her mind yet. “I’m in grief, together with the entire family. Until now di pa nagsi-sink in yon na the Lord has taken him. It’s hard,” she said.

Bianca, for her part, said she was very proud of her father. “I know that wherever he is called, he wanted to make a difference. He taught us how to be generous and how to work hard,” she said.

Bernardina said: “(My dad) was kind and a loving father. He always found joy in being with his children, being with people, seeing people happy, making people happy. He always joked around.”

Marilou said Iggy was a kind and patient brother. When asked if she wanted to run for his post in the 5th District, Marilou said she might consider it if people wanted her to. But at the most, she would want to run in a regular election in 2013, not in a special election.

There are nine prospective candidates for Iggy’s post in the event Congress decides to have special elections. Among them are Ibuna herself, Binalbagan town Mayor Alejandro Mirasol and PB Members Melvin Ibañez and Emilio Yulo III. - THE FREEMAN