Ex-Speaker Mitra’s widow dies of stroke

MANILA, Philippines - The widow of the late Speaker Ramon Mitra Jr., Cecille Blanco Mitra, died of a stroke yesterday. She was 76.

She was rushed to the hospital yesterday morning but was pronounced dead on arrival at 4:20 a.m.

The family will announce details of the in the next few days.

A survivor of breast cancer, Mitra is survived by six sons, led by Palawan Gov. Abraham Kahlil “Baham” Mitra; Eduardo, Juan Pablo, Ramon “Mon-mon,” Bernardo and Joaquin and their respective spouses, and grandchildren.

“To one of the most gracious and elegant women I’ve ever known, we will miss you, Tita Cecille Blanco Mitra. Rest in peace,” Eduard Blanco, a nephew, posted in his Facebook page yesterday. Speaker Mitra died on March 20, 2000 at age 72. Two of their sons are running in next year’s elections: Baham for a second term as Palawan governor, and Mon-mon, who ran but lost in the Senate race in the May 2010 elections, is running again, this time for the old congressional seat of their late father in the chartered city of Puerto Princesa.

In a text message to The Star, Baham related how his late mother up to the end of her life cared so much for their household staff in Puerto Princesa City.

“I was surprised when I went to airport for my flight back to Puerto Princesa last night, only to find out it’s full of Christmas gifts to our household staff prepared by Mom and she asked her staff to send it thru me. Most of the staff cried upon receipt of the gifts today,” Baham said.