Doy gets hero’s burial at Libingan

Leaving behind a legacy of self-sacrifice and passionate service to his country, former vice president Salvador "Doy" Laurel was given a hero’s burial at high noon yesterday at the Libingan ng mga Bayani at Fort Bonifacio in Makati City.

President Arroyo conferred the Order of Lakandula, Rank of Bayani (Hero) on Laurel, whom former President Fidel Ramos described in his eulogy as a "nationalist, diplomat, legal luminary, poet and freedom fighter."

"The entire sweep of Doy’s public service and personal advocacies encompassed three major turning points in the evolution of Philippine independence and democracy, namely: the independent struggle against Spain, the Philippine-American war, and our people power revolution that toppled the Marcos dictatorship in February 1986," Ramos said.

He recalled that when he asked Laurel to head the National Centennial Commission (NCC), the former vice president accepted the post on the condition that he would not receive any payment.

Laurel’s widow, Celia, said Ramos’ "kind words" about her husband and his praise of Laurel’s actions when he was NCC chairman "will resound in the corridors of history and earn for Doy his total vindication."

Laurel was charged in 2003 with graft arising from certain anomalies in NCC projects. The case was still pending before the Sandiganbayan when Laurel died of cancer in the United States last Jan. 27. He was 75.

"With his state funeral and the Lakandula Award, you have elevated him to heights beyond his greatest expectations. You have made him a hero, an icon, and a legend which I hope will inspire the youth of generations to come to love and serve the country as Doy did," Celia said during the necrological services at the Santuario de San Antonio at Forbes Park in Makati.

A 19-gun salute signaled the start of the funeral march, led by Mrs. Arroyo, Celia, and the eight Laurel children: Cocoy, Iwi, David, Stella, Suzie, Lynie, Larry and Kristipi, as well as Laurel’s 85-year-old brother, Sotero.

The golden urn containing Laurel’s ashes was placed on an ark lined with rose petals, and a Philippine flag draped over it.

An Army battalion in gala uniform led the horse-drawn carriage that brought Laurel’s ashes to his final resting place, beside the tombs of foreign affairs secretary Blas Ople, who died in December last year, and Quezon congressman Marcial Punzalan, who was gunned down by alleged communist rebels in May 2001.

Laurel’s military aides when he was still vice president served as honorary pallbearers.

After the final benediction — at exactly 12 noon — Celia watched solemnly as her sons Cocoy and David lowered the urn into the ground amidst a shower of red and white rose petals dropped from a military helicopter. Mrs. Arroyo was standing to her right. The song "Impossible Dream" — one of Laurel’s favorites — played in the background.

Soldiers then fired off three volleys, representing the 21-gun salute, and played "Taps" as Mrs. Arroyo handed the flag, now folded, to Laurel’s widow.

Each member of the Laurel family then threw white roses into the grave. Other members of the family released an eagle and 10 white doves.

Former President Corazon Aquino, to whom Laurel gave way in the 1985 snap presidential elections to unify the opposition against the late strongman Ferdinand Marcos, did not attend Laurel’s funeral.

Aquino had a falling out with Laurel in the middle of their term but she condoled with his widow and children during the wake earlier this week.

Other dignitaries who attended Laurel’s state funeral included State President Franklin Drilon, Speaker Jose de Venecia, Sen. Manuel Villar and his wife, Las Piñas Rep. Cynthia Villar, and members of the diplomatic corps.

Villar, executive chairman of the Nacionalista Party, vowed to fulfill Laurel’s vision for a new brand of politics that will reinvigorate the country’s flagging socioeconomic conditions. Laurel was once NP president.

Villar said he had always regarded Laurel as a teacher and older brother who constantly gave him astute pieces of advice on politics.

He also commended Laurel’s "heroic" decision to give up his bid for the presidency in favor of Aquino.

"For Doy, national welfare is paramount to personal interest," he said. "Sa tulong ni Doy, naibalik ang demokrasya sa Pilipinas (With Doy’s help, democracy was returned to the Philippines)."

Manila Mayor Lito Atienza, on the other hand, said Manila will honor the memory of Laurel and his father, the late President Jose Laurel Sr., by erecting a statue of the two statesmen along Roxas Boulevard, in front of the Laurel Foundation Building.

"With the permission of the Laurel family, we intend to put up a monument to these two Filipino leaders who devoted their lives to serving our country and our people," he said.

Atienza added that Laurel was also a Manileño, having been born in Peñafrancia in Paco, Manila on Nov. 18, 1928.

He explained that erecting a statue of Laurel along one of Manila’s historic boulevards is a fitting tribute to the former vice president, who led the opposition during the darkest days of martial law.

"When the nation was in darkness, we needed a beacon to provide light and guidance to the opposition. Doy assumed that role, and though many tried, no one was able to measure up to his leadership during those crucial times in our country’s history," Atienza said.