CEBU, Philippines —The remains of the late Cebu City North District Rep. Raul Del Mar have been brought back to the city yesterday.
The 79-year-old congressman passed away at a hospital in Manila on November 16 after several days of confinement.
The welcoming rites for the remains of the legislator at Mactan Cebu International Airport (MCIA) were led by former Cebu City mayor Tomas Osmeña and Lapu-Lapu City Mayor Junard Chan.
Bando Osmeña-Pundok Kauswagan (BOPK) councilors and MCIA officials were also present.
A short program was then held at the Cebu Port Authority (CPA) to honor Del Mar, who was responsible for pushing for the laws that created the CPA, as well as the Mactan Cebu International Airport Authority.
Osmeña, a close friend and ally of Del Mar, said he is a great loss, most especially to Cebuanos.
“Daghan kaayo akong tubag niana. Sa personal, dako. Sa syudad, mas dako pa. Og wa pa si Raul... we will be completely different,” said Osmeña.
The former mayor shared how he personally witnessed Del Mar’s commitment as a public servant.
“Wa sya’y absent sa Kongreso. One time nga nasakit siya, akong gibisita sa hospital didto sa Manila. He said: ‘Let’s go’,” said Osmeña.
When asked where he was going, he said the legislator answered that he will attend the session.
Osmeña then responded: “Session? Uy, you stay here.’ But Del Mar only told him, ‘No, I have to go to the session.’”
“Ako mismo gida ang dextrose. Gibitay sa akong kamot, I had to bring him sa session hall. Wa na ko’y mahimo,” said Osmeña.
Osmeña said Del Mar was “very consistent all the way” and was able to give a “100 percent performance.”
“Naa siya’y ups, naa siya’y downs. Pero as far as his loyalty and consistence is concerned, dako kaayo ang akong garbo that we had an ally like Cong. Del Mar,” he said.
He said the legislator was a great inspiration to everyone, especially the youth.
“That’s why akong damgo, if I had my way, I will rename the airport Del Mar International Airport because it’s a good model for everyone to see... Why rename it after somebody else? If I had my one wish for Raul, one inspiration he can give to all of us labi na sa mga kabataan, I want the airport to be renamed Del Mar International Airport,” said Osmeña.
Former Rep. Rachel “Cutie” Del Mar, the legislator’s daughter, said her father was hardworking in Congress and was also hardworking here in Cebu “flying home every single weekend.”
“You may think that a fly from Manila to Cebu is only an hour and a half, but it doesn’t really work that way. From the time you leave your home here in Cebu to the time you reach your destination, whether it’s Manila or whatever city you’re going to, you would waste at least eight hours, 10, for the delays, 12 sometimes... But never once that he complained. That’s how much he loved serving the Filipino people,” she said.
“After all he said, when you’re a congressman, you are a public servant. And, that he was to the City of Cebu,” she added.
After the short program at the CPA, Del Mar’s remains were brought to the Basilica Minore del Santo Niño de Cebu where a funeral Mass was held and a public viewing thereafter. — KQD (FREEMAN)