SAGAY CITY -- Flowers fell from the sky and the poignant sound of Taps filled the air as thousands of Negrenses bade their final farewell to Gov. Joseph Marañon here yesterday morning.

Superintendent William Señoron, Sagay police chief, said about 10,000 people from all walks of life came for the funeral of the governor, who was laid to rest at the Marañon family cemetery in Barangay Rizal here.

The crowds packed the St. Joseph the Worker Church where the funeral mass was held, while others waited at the cemetery and in front of the Sagay City Hall, and some lined the streets waving flaglets.

Streamers expressing love and bidding farewell to the governor also hung from trees, buildings and fences.

San Carlos Bishop Jose Advincula, who led the concelebrated funeral mass, said the governor was not perfect but he tried hard to love and serve others, especially the poor.

That is why in spite of the sadness at the governor’s passing away, Advincula said yesterday’s mass was also being held in thanksgiving for “a man who forgot self and lived for others.”

“He was a generous, simple man with a big heart for the poor who served us so well…he touched the lives of so many,” Advincula said.

In keeping with the governor’s wishes, no politicians spoke at his wake and at the end of the final mass, only his wife, Aida, stood up to thank all those who condoled with them and showed them comfort.

Although she will always miss her husband and was sad that he passed away, Mrs. Marañon said she is happy that he has gone back to the Father where there is no more pain.

The governor passed away on March 13 after a five-and-half year battle with illness triggered by a growth in his liver that was aggravated in May last year by acquired community pneumonia.

He would have been 74 tomorrow had he made it to his March 19 birthday.

Mrs. Marañon asked the public after the mass to allow their family to bury the governor in private but that did not stop hundreds of mourners to still show up at the cemetery.

Two Air Force helicopters flew over the Sagay City Hall area and the cemetery for floral drops as a final tribute to the governor, while a 21-gun salute and the playing of Taps took place during the burial.

The policemen who stood guard at Marañon’s closed casket then folded the Philippine flag draped on it and handed it to Governor Isidro Zayco who in turn gave it to Mrs. Marañon.

Senator Juan Miguel Zuburi who was at the funeral said he remembers the governor as a very happy, good and decent man.

Marañon’s three terms of being governor of Negros Occidental has been one of progress, relative of political peace, and of service down to the barangays and we will sorely miss him, Zubiri said.

Senate President Manuel Villar, who was in Bacolod yesterday, said “Gov. Marañon will continue to live in the hearts of Negrenses. He will forever be remembered for his brand of public service that was effective, efficient and people-centered.”

Senators Edgardo Angara and Mar Roxas also earlier went to the wake of Marañon.*CPG

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