House pays final respects to ex-Speaker Nograles
Credit to Author: The Manila Times| Date: Tue, 07 May 2019 06:00:21 +0000
THE House of Representatives on Tuesday paid its last respects to its former Speaker Prospero “Boy” Nograles, whose leadership paved the way for a genuine “House of the People.”
The necrological services at the session hall started with a Requiem Mass in the morning, followed by a delivery of eulogies from Nograles’ colleagues and friends in the field of public service.
Present among family members were the late Speaker’s wife Rhodora, sons Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles and PBA party-list Rep. Jericho Nograles, among others.
Former House secretary general Marilyn Yap described Nograles as her “friend, boss, captain, leader, and [her] most beloved Speaker.”
She recounted in her eulogy how Nograles was the only House member to ever occupy the top three positions of leadership in his chamber, being the Majority Leader and House rules committee chair, head of the House contingent in the commission on appointments, and Speaker.
“I have served many majority leaders before him. But he was, by far, the most methodical, the most hardworking. He was driven to achieve as much as he can,” Yap said, adding that Nograles even treated the House staff with utmost care and respect.
Former Speaker and Quezon City mayor Feliciano “Sonny” Belmonte praised Nograles for building a legacy full of dedication and sincerity in serving the people, having been a trailblazer and patriarch as the first Mindanaoan Speaker.
“I now bid farewell to a Statesman and a public servant, and give him a staunch salute for a life well lived. It was a privilege to witness his dedicated service to the Filipino people,” Belmonte said.
Former Mandaluyong City representative and House Majority Leader Neptali Gonzales 2nd described Nograles as a reliable friend, whose proud ways came with genuine kindness and service.
“In a very endearing way, he was ‘mayabang’ (proud) but super kind, caring, and a reliable friend, he serves and loves the country. If he was ever proud, I have loved and embraced him because of it. Boss, I will miss you,” he said.
Incumbent Speaker Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, who considered Nograles a “friend for more than 50 years,” recounted his love for singing “What a Wonderful World” by Louis Armstrong during their last reunion.
“The last time I saw Boy hale and hearty was during one of those many reunions of his college class. We all know now from today what a great and game singer Boy was, and how much he loved to sing ‘What a Wonderful World’ in his Louis Armstrong voice,” Arroyo said in her eulogy.
“I would like to thank Boy, today is, yes Boy, what a wonderful world you helped to create with your friendship, with your work and I believe that even us, you family, the House of Representatives and the secretariat will miss you,” she added.
Arroyo also said that Nograles’ death may have been postponed so that he could personally announce to his youngest daughter Margarita that she was one of the 1,800 lawyers who passed the 2018 Bar Exams. Nograles was a bar topnotcher himself in 1972.
Meanwhile, Taguig City congressional candidate Alan Peter Cayetano, Cavite governor Crispin “Boying” Remulla, and San Juan Rep. Ronaldo Zamora also lauded the late Nograles for being “a good mentor,” and “a public servant with a strong commitment to fight for the country.”
Rep. Jericho Nograles expressed his gratitude for the kind words and prayers that their family had received amid their grief.
“As family members, we are forever grateful to the Filipino, to the employees of the House, to the members of the House, for giving him the honor and privilege to serve. He loved the House. He loved it dearly,” Jericho said.
“Papa, your session has adjourned, but don’t worry, the House will move on and we will get to work,” he said.
House staff and members lined up at the plenary hall to offer white roses to Nograles before his remains were flown to his hometown Davao City in the afternoon.
Nograles died at the age of 71 on Saturday due to “respiratory failure, secondary to pneumonia,” Cabinet Secretary Nograles previously said. GLEE JALEA
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