USec Frostrom to be laid to rest in Mactan Tuesday

CEBU, Philippines - Undersecretary Marilou Dematera Frostrom of the Presidential Management Staff and erstwhile appointments secretary of President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo will be laid to rest Tuesday morning at Mactan Island Memorial Garden in Marigondon, Lapu-Lapu City.

Frostrom was among the staff of the Office of the President on board the ill-fated Bell executive helicopter of the Presidential Wing of the Philippine Air Force that crashed last week in the mountains of Ifugao Province.

Myrna Abellar, the younger sister of Frostrom said that her sister was the “bestfriend” of the President.

She added that her sister knows the temper of the President very well and was one of the officials, who could easily approach Arroyo, who she thanked for her all out support to their family in this time of grief.

Frostrom, whose family hails from Bicol was raised in Cebu and graduated cum laude at the University of San Carlos with the degree of Bachelor of Arts in English with concentration in Secretarial Science. Her residence is in Lapu-Lapu City.

In her eulogy President Arroyo described Frostrom as her closest co-worker as well as a perfect co-worker.”

“She was one of the most if not the most competent of the people I have ever worked with in all my life and one of the most trustworthy and loyal. And as what you have heard from the others, and as many of you know her, while her 24/7 work ethic matched mine, her sunshine personality was the perfect foil for my quick temper, so we got along famously,” Arroyo said.

Change Of Plans

Engineer Jan Frostrom, Marilou’s Swedish husband, said that they will no longer continue building the dream house that they both planned even if everything is already set.

He said that they have instead decided to build a school for poor children in the 4,000-square meter lot intended for the house.

It is located in sitio Tagaytay, barangay Tayud, Liloan.

He also said that he was overwhelmed that the President will support and will join the Malou Frostrom Scholarship Foundation.

Aside from the President, several cabinet officials have also expressed their willingness to help the foundation that will be set up in Marilou’s memory.

Officials of Lapu-Lapu City are also mourning the death of Frostrom.

Lapu-Lapu City Vice Mayor Mario Amores said that they have lost a friend and a very helpful resident of their city.

He said that every time they had something to ask the President, Marilou was always there to back them up.

Last Thursday evening, President Arroyo conferred posthumously the Presidential Medal of Merit on the eight victims of the crash.

The award was meant to formally recognize the victims’ dedication “to serve the Presidency and the Republic far beyond the call of duty.”

President Arroyo presented the awards to the victims’ families during the necrological service at Malacañang.

The others who died in the crash were Press Undersecretary Jose Capadocia, senior presidential military aide Brig. Gen. Carlos Clet, PMS Assistant Director Perlita Bandayanon, pilot Major Rolando Sacatani, co-pilot Captain Alvin Alegata, Clet’s aide Quarter Master 3rd Class Demy Reyno, and chopper crewman Sergeant Rohegem Perez.

The team was part of President Arroyo’s advance party to Banaue in Ifugao, which she was supposed to visit last Wednesday.

The President cancelled her trip to Ifugao after the disaster. —Johanna T. Natavio/NLQ (THE FREEMAN)