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Volume III, No. 093
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See story on Page A1 12 September 12, 2014 P15.00
Butuanons bid goodbye to Mrs. Geraldine H. Fortun B
By PAT SAMONTE, Caraga Regional Editor
UTUAN CITY -- Hundreds of Butuanons including relatives of Mrs. Geraldine Hernandez Fortun joined her funeral procession until her final resting place at Butuan Gardens Memorial Park in Barangay Bancasi here shortly before noon on September 4, 2014.
FAREWELL. Rep. Lawrence Lemuel Fortun, his wife, Marie Therese, and son Reason Pious say Adieu to Mrs. Geraldine H. Fortun as Rev. Fr. Michael Casinillo prays before the departed is intered into her final resting place.
Rep. Fortun thanks all those who joined him and his family in their hour of sorrow saying, “No words can fully express our appreciation and gratitude for the sympathy and support you gave us with the passing of my mother.”
Rep. Fortun wife, Marie Therese, sons Reason Pious and Populi Victor (sitting) before the interment.
Rep. Fortun poses with her mother’s relatives during the wake at Raniel Memorial Chapel. To Fortun’s right is Ederlinda Fernandez de Rama and to his left is Maria H. de Rama Sanchez.
EARLY BIRDS. Interior Secretary Mar Roxas (center) Agusan del Norte Gov. Angelica Amante-Matba, Butuan City Mayor Ferdinand Amante, Jr. (right) and Cabadbaran City Mayor Dale Corvera (extreme left) meet Rep. Fortun (second from right) at the Butuan Bancasi Airport as he and his wife, Marie Therese, arrive from Manila to accompany the departed Mrs. Geraldine Fortun.
Mrs. Fortun of San Fernando, Las Union, died in her sleep in Quezon City on August 28, 2014 at the age of 78. Her son, Agusan del Norte First District Lawrence Lemuel Fortun and wife, Marie Therese, brought her remains here on August 31. They were met at the Bancasi Airport by Interior Secretary Mar Roxas, Agusan del Norte Governor Angelica Matba-Amante, Butuan City Mayor Ferdinand Amante, Jr., Cabadbaran City Mayor Dale Corvera and some Fortun clan members. Mrs. Fortun was brought to Raniel Memorial Chapel where thousands came during the four-day wake to pay their respect to the departed. Mrs. Fortun was chairperson of Barangay Raha Soliman here, board member of the Boy Scouts of the Philippines, Agusan Council, and manager of Virgo Security Agency, Butuan City. The procession started from Raniel Memorial Chapel on Diversion Road to St. Joseph Cathedral, where a mass was administered by Fr. Michael Casinillo. After the mass, Mrs. Fortun’s funeral convoy proceeded to Butuan Gardens Memorial Park escorted by some 40 motorycles and several more 4-wheel private vehicles. In his message on the eve of the funeral, Rep. Fortun said that her mother’s “quiet and peaceful” passing showed her true character. “She did not want me to worry about her.” The young lawmaker
recalled ”We had agreed to have her fitted with a pair of eyeglasses. I knew her eyesight was deteriorating because of her age. She died before our appointment with the eye doctor.” He recalled that her mother was very active in barangay activities and even surprised him with her accomplishments. While he was in active law practice in Quezon City in 2001-2007, Fortun said her mother became President of Barangay Bagong Pagasa Senior Citizens Association and Board Member of the Senior Citizens Association Federation in Quezon City. He said her mother became a close friend of a fellow Ilocano, then Congressman Floro “Bingbong” Crisologo, Jr., and now Mayor Herbert Bautista. “Because of that friendship, she was able to secure computers and other equipment for the Barangay Bagong Pag-asa Senior Citizens Association office.” As a youngster, Rep. Fortun revealed that her mother had always shown her concern for him. While his father, Camilo, was elected city councilor for several terms, “We never had a lot or house of our own. I grew up poor,” he said. “My father died and left us without a lot and house but his memory,” he added. Fortun said he would have his father’s remains transferred from the Chinese Cemetery here to Butuan Gardens Memorial Park beside her mother’s coffin and have a family mausoleum built.
All photos by Pat Samonte
Butuan City Vice-Mayor Angelo Calo (center), Councilors Ray Anthony Culima (second from right) and Virgilio Nery were among the early guests who gave their sympathy to Rep. Fortun (right).
Mrs. Marie Therese Fortun (third from left) joins guests during Day 2 of the four-day wake for the deceased.
Mrs. Marie Therese Fortun engages Mrs Ivy Amante (right) and City Councilwoman Rema Burdeos in a conversation after the burial.
Rep. Fortun is in a lively banter with Association of Barangay Captains President Nestor Amora during the wake for the lawmaker’s mother.
Rep. Fortun seems not affected by lack of sleep as he joins a crowd of well-wishes among them his cousin, lawyer Vincent Jose Fortun (right) and radio commentator Cecil Ybañez.