KOK0Y DIES AT 81 / LEYTEÑOS: WE LOVE YOU KOKOY
MANILA, FEBRUARY 28, 2012 (STANDARD) (PHOTO- Farewell. Soldiers
honor former Ambassador and Leyte Gov. Benjamin "Kokoy'' Romualdez in Tacloban
City. From left: his sons Ferdinand Martin, Daniel and Philip and wife Juliette.
Ver S. Noveno)
THE remains of the late Ambassador Benjamin "Kokoy" Romualdez will be
interred today at the Heritage Memorial Park in Taguig City after a 9 a.m. Mass
at the Sanctuario de San Antonio, Forbes Park.
His son, Rep. Ferdinand Martin "FM" Romualdez, said the outpouring of support
and sympathy shown by his father's former constituents and some contemporaries
lessened their grieving.
Former First Lady Imelda Romualdez-Marcos acknowledged the contributions of
her late brother to progress and development during his tenure as Leyte governor
from 1968 to 1986.
[PHOTO - Goodbye. Juliette Gomez Romualdez (2nd left), wife of the late
former US Amb. and Leyte Gov.Benjamin "Kokoy" Romualdez, joins hands in prayer
with son Chamber of Mines president Philip Romualdez (left), Yedda Marie (2nd
right), wife of Leyte 1st Dist Rep. Ferdinand Martin "FM" Romualdez, and
daughter Marian Romualdez-Pompidou during a mass in Forbes Park. Ver
S.Noveno]
She mentioned in particular the establishment of the University of the
Philippines-Tacloban. As if a premier school like U.P. was not enough, the
former governor of Leyte founded the Doña Remedios Trinidad Romualdez Medical
Foundation and the Dr. Vicente Orestes Romualdez Educational Foundation —
undoubtedly the best medical and law schools in Eastern Visayas.
The flag-draped glass casket bearing the remains of "Kokoy," as he was called
by friends and constituents, was brought to Leyte on Saturday to give his
supporters and provincemates the chance to mourn his passing. It was brought
back to Manila at 11 a.m.
The six towns of Leyte's first district — Alangalang, Babatngon, Palo, Sta.
Fe, San Miguel, Tanauan and Tolosa — also sent their delegations to the wake.
Among those who lined up the church aisle at the end of each mass to get a
glimpse of Leyte's favorite son were the 6,200 professionals who were
beneficiaries of the medical and educational institutions he founded and
established.
FROM THE INQUIRER
Benjamin 'Kokoy' Romualdez dies; 81 Philippine
Daily Inquirer 4:18 am | Wednesday, February 22nd, 2012 4share43 36
Former Leyte Governor Benjamin "Kokoy" Romualdez (photo at
left), a younger brother of former first lady Imelda Marcos, died Wednesday
afternoon at Makati Medical Center after a lingering illness. He was 81.
Said to be the favorite kid brother of Imelda Marcos, he was one of the more
controversial but colorful power players of the martial law years.
To the workers in his publishing empire that included its flagship People's
Journal, he was known as "Datu Puti" for his head of white hair and his
all-white and bush jacket.
Romualdez's body lies at the family residence at 1 Palm Avenue, Forbes Park,
Makati City, prior to being transferred to Tacloban City, Leyte, for memorial
services. Interment details will be announced later.
Romualdez, also a former Philippine ambassador, served as governor of Leyte
from 1967 until 1986, the year the country witnessed the Edsa People Power
Revolution.
Romualdez's son, Ferdinand Martin, is the incumbent representative of Leyte's
first district.
[PHOTO -Former First Lady Imelda Marcos]
The family plans to bring Romualdez's body to Tacloban on Friday to allow
viewing by relatives and supporters, according to Bernardita Valenzuela, an
executive assistant to Tacloban Mayor Alfred Romualdez, a nephew of the former
governor.
"He was a very good man," Valenzuela, a close family friend, said in a brief
interview.
The Leyte provincial administrator, Vicente Emnas, said the family would be
welcome to hold the wake of Romualdez at the provincial capitol.
The Philippine flags at the provincial capitol and public buildings in the
province will be placed at half-staff as a sign of respect for the former
governor.
Resolution of condolence
Leyte Board Member Roque Tiu authored a resolution on Tuesday expressing
condolences to the Romualdez family.
"This is our way of expressing of deepest condolences to the family of the
late governor," Tiu said in a phone interview.
He said Romualdez left a legacy which benefited the people of Leyte while he
was its governor.
It was during Romualdez's time that major infrastructure projects were
undertaken, including the putting up of the Leyte Estate Industrial Development,
the only economic zone in Eastern Visayas located in Isabel town.
It was also during Romualdez's incumbency as governor that the geothermal
plant in Kananga town, the main source of power of Eastern Visayas, was
established.
The son of the late Vicente Orestes Romualdez, a former dean of the law
school of St. Paul's College in Tacloban, Kokoy Romualdez began his career in
politics after serving as an assistant of then Speaker Daniel Romualdez from
1957 to 1961.
Ambassador
Romualdez embarked on his own career in the diplomatic service and in
politics spanning more than 20 years. He served several terms as Leyte governor.
Romualdez was appointed ambassador to China, Saudi Arabia and the United
States while serving as Leyte governor until 1986, when his family went into
exile following the Edsa revolution.
He was instrumental in the establishment of diplomatic relations between the
Philippines and the People's Republic of China in the 1970s, becoming Manila's
first ambassador to Beijing.
Known for his organizational skills, Romualdez paved the way for the state
visits of President Marcos to various countries, including the United States.
He is survived by his wife Juliette and children Daniel, a practicing
architect in New York, and partner Michael; Benjamin Philip, president and chief
executive officer of Benguet Corp., who is married to Inquirer president and CEO
Maria Alexandra; Ferdinand Martin, who is married to Yedda Marie; Marean, an
investment banker, and husband Thomas; sisters Imelda Marcos, Alita Martel,
Conchita Yap and brothers Alfredo and Armando. Reports from Inquirer Research
and Joey Gabieta, Inquirer Visayas
Leyteños pay their last respects to Romualdez By
Joey A. Gabieta Inquirer Visayas 8:48 am | Sunday, February 26th, 2012
TACLOBAN CITY, Philippines—Virginia Roa, 65, was standing outside the
airport as early as 6 a.m. Saturday, waiting for "my governor" to arrive.
But this homemaker from Tacloban was filled with mixed emotions when she saw
the hearse bearing the remains of former Leyte governor Benjamin "Kokoy"
Romualdez coming out of the Daniel Z. Romualdez airport shortly before noon.
While she was sad at his passing, Roa said she was happy that she was able to
see him one last time.
"He (Romualdez) was a good leader because he was responsible for several
projects that not only benefited Leyte but the entire region," she told the
Inquirer.
Thousands of people from all walks of life paid their last respects to
Romualdez, who was governor of Leyte for 19 years, the longest serving
provincial chief executive in Eastern Visayas.
Businessman Philip Romualdez, his wife Alexandra "Sandy" Prieto-Romualdez and
sister Marian accompanied the remains of the former governor on board a private
plane.
They arrived at the airport, which was named after their uncle Daniel Z.
Romualdez, at 11:38 a.m. Among those who received the remains were Romualdez's
elder sister, former first lady and now Ilocos Rep. Imelda Marcos, younger
brother Alfredo "Bejo" Romualdez and the latter's son, Tacloban Mayor Alfred
Romualdez.
Romualdez's wife, Juliette, and children Daniel Romualdez and Rep. Ferdinand
Martin Romualdez arrived in Tacloban about an hour earlier.
The glass coffin bearing the late governor's remains was mounted on a flatbed
truck, which was adorned with flowers.
Hundreds of cars, jeepneys and buses joined the convoy to the provincial
capitol, about 7 kilometers from the airport. The family members were touched
when they saw the thousands of people lining the streets and waving at the
procession as confetti rained from a helicopter.
Some of them were students from the family-owned Doña Remedios Trinidad
Romualdez Medical Foundation.
Senior Supt. Wilson Caubat, Tacloban City police director, said more than
10,000 people waited along the streets leading to the capitol to see the
governor.
"We are really deeply touched by the display of love and affection from the
Taclobanons and the Leyteños to papa," said Martin, who represents Leyte's first
district in the House of Representatives.
The procession arrived at the provincial capitol after 2 p.m. where a Mass
officiated by Monsignor Ramon Aguilos was said.
Some 1,000 people gathered at the capitol to hear the Mass for Romualdez, who
was credited with starting the development of Leyte when he was governor from
1967 to 1986.
After an hour, the coffin was moved to the Santo Niño Church for a requiem
Mass and vigil. The remains were tentatively scheduled to be brought back to
Manila on Sunday afternoon. Interment is set on Tuesday.
Speaking before the crowd at the capitol, Philip said his father served the
province well by initiating projects that benefited its people.
"And the family is thankful to you for joining us during this time of our
bereavement," he said.
Philip, however, declined to be interviewed.
His wife, Alexandra Prieto-Romualdez, who is the Inquirer president,
described her father-in-law as "so loving and very understanding."
"Everything, I loved everything about him," she said, adding that he was very
fond of his grandchildren.
She also gave him credit for his "immense love" for Leyte and its people.
Romualdez, 81, died after a lingering illness at the Makati Medical Center in
Manila on Feb. 21.
Many Leyteños were saddened by the death of Romualdez who initiated projects
that spurred development in the province.
One of these projects was the construction of the San Juanico Bridge, which
connects Leyte and Samar islands.
Romualdez also initiated the construction of the geothermal power plants in
Barangay Tongonan, Kananga town, which serve as the main source of electricity
for the Visayas, as well as for the establishment of the Leyte Industrial
Development Estate (LIDE) in Isabel town, the only economic zone in the region.
Romualdez was also instrumental in the establishment of the University of the
Philippines in Tacloban and the then Visayas College of Agriculture, now the
Visayas State University, in Baybay City, one of the best agricultural schools
in the country.
FROM MANILA BULLETIN
FAREWELL TO AMBASSADOR BENJAMIN T. ROMUALDEZ, A DIPLOMAT AND
GOVERNOR February 28, 2012, 2:50am
FORMER Leyte Governor Benjamin T. Romualdez passed away on February
21, 2012, in Makati City at the age of 81.
He was the younger brother of former First Lady, now Ilocos Norte
Representative Imelda Romualdez Marcos, and father of Leyte's 1st District
Representative Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez.
The son of the late Vicente Orestes Romualdez, a former Dean of the law
school of St. Paul's College in Tacloban, Governor Romualdez began his career in
politics after serving as an assistant of former Speaker Daniel Z. Romualdez of
Leyte Province, from 1957 to 1961.
Fondly called "Kokoy," he served as Philippine Ambassador to Washington in
United States, Beijing in the People's Republic of China, and Saudi Arabia
during the Marcos Administration.
He went to the United States in 1986 after the EDSA People Power Revolution,
and set up his businesses in Massachusetts, New York, and Hawaii. Fourteen years
later, he returned to the Philippines to face charges against him. In October
20, 2009, Governor Romualdez was cleared of graft charges by the Supreme Court
of the Philippines.
Thousands lined up to pay their last respects when Governor Romualdez's
remains were brought to Tacloban, Leyte, a province he led from 1968 to 1986.
The late Governor was responsible for establishing the University of the
Philippines-Tacloban, founded the Doña Remedios Trinidad Romualdez Medical
Foundation, and the Dr. Vicente Orestes Romualdez Educational Foundation.
"Quality education is one of the best gifts Kokoy has given our generation," say
students from the two institutions, where Governor Romualdez remained as Chairman up to the time of his
demise.
It was during Romualdez's time as governor that major infrastructure projects
were undertaken, including the setting up of the Leyte Estate Industrial
Development, the only economic zone in Eastern Visayas. It was also during his
time that the geothermal plant in Kananga town, the main source of power of
Eastern Visayas, was established.
Upon his remains' return to Manila, Governor Romualdez was given military
honors. He is survived by his wife Juliette; children Daniel, Benjamin Philip,
Ferdinand Martin, and Marean Pompidou; siblings Imelda R. Marcos, Alita R.
Martel, Conchita R. Yap, Alfredo, and Armando. His remains will be interred at
The Heritage Memorial Park in Taguig City on February 28, 2012, at 9 a.m.,
following the funeral Mass at the Sanctuario de San Antonio, Forbes Park.
The Manila Bulletin, led by its Chairman Dr. Emilio T. Yap, Directors,
Officers, Editors, and Employees, conveys their deepest condolences and
sympathies with the Romualdez family over the passing away of H.E., Ambassador
Benjamin "Kokoy" Romualdez. We pray for his eternal repose. May he rest in
peace.
Chief News Editor: Sol
Jose Vanzi
© Copyright, 2012 by PHILIPPINE HEADLINE
NEWS ONLINE
All rights reserved
PHILIPPINE HEADLINE NEWS
ONLINE [PHNO] WEBSITE
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