Ate Vi loses a dear friend

MANILA, Philippines - Monday night, Batangas Gov. Vilma Santos mustered enough courage to attend the wake for Aida Fandialan (her dear friend, confidante, accountant and Girl Friday rolled into one) at the Loyola Memorial Chapels in Sucat, Parañaque City.

Aida suffered a stroke (her second in 10 years) last Saturday (July 19) morning and died early the next day at the Asian Hospital where she was rushed to the ICU.

Vilma and husband Sen. Ralph Recto (with usual traveling company) were in London to look for a school for their son Ryan Christian (who graduated from La Salle Greenhills last March) who was left behind along with his Tita Aida who took care of him.

The entourage was about to leave London when Vilma got a text message that Aida was hospitalized.

When they arrived at the NAIA Sunday afternoon, first thing Vilma asked was how Aida was. Told that she had died, Vilma broke down. It turned out that she didn’t get the second message texted to her while she was already airborne.

Aida had been with Vilma and her family for more than 35 years. She was already virtually a member of the family with whom she always traveled, except on the recent one.

To calm her down, Vilma has to be injected with a sedative.

At the Loyola Chapel where Aida’s remains lie, Vilma at first couldn’t bear to look at Aida inside the white coffin. But after the Mass, she slowly walked toward the coffin and broke down again. Nobody could pacify her.

A Mass will be held again tonight at 7, last night of the wake. Aida will be buried on tomorrow morning after another Mass. Aida would have turned 72 in November.

Incidentally, Aida’s old car was destroyed by Typhoon Glenda. Luckily, it had already been traded in. Her new car, a CRV, was delivered two days after she died.