2 million seen to attend Ka Erdy's burial

MANILA, Philippines - Motorists are advised to avoid Commonwealth Avenue in Quezon City tomorrow as two million people are expected to attend the burial of Iglesia ni Cristo head Eraño “Ka Erdy” Manalo at the INC Central Temple complex, Bayani Fernando, chairman of the Metro Manila Development Authority, said yesterday.

“We are advising the public to avoid Commonwealth Avenue because we expect the influx of mourners numbering to about two million,” Fernando said at a press briefing.

By midnight tonight, a long stretch of the westbound lane of Commonwealth Avenue (toward Quezon Memorial Circle) will be closed to traffic.

To be closed to vehicular traffic is the stretch at the corner of Luzon Ave. up to Elliptical Road.

Fernando said the road will remain closed until Monday afternoon or after Manalo’s burial.

Fernando said Malacañang’s declaration of a non-working holiday tomorrow would greatly help ease the heavy flow of traffic.

Fernando said the parking space for vehicles would be the two lanes along the westbound lane of Commonwealth Ave. near Asian Institute of Tourism up to Elliptical Road.

Authorities have also closed to traffic a stretch of Central Ave. from Visayas Ave. to Commonwealth Ave. and Tandang Sora Road.

Designated two-way alternate routes are from Sauyo Road to Mindanao Ave., San Mateo Bridge to Marikina, Quirino Avenue, and C-5 Road.

In a statement, Bienvenido Santiago of the INC said Manalo’s burial is at noon at the Tabernacle “located near the Central Temple, while awaiting the construction of the mausoleum to which his remains will be transferred.”

“The said monument will be built near the monument of the late Brother Felix Manalo, also within the grounds of the Iglesia ni Cristo Central Complex,” the statement read.

Meanwhile, Philippine National Police chief Director General Jesus Verzosa has ordered the PNP cadet corps to render honors at the burial of “Ka Erdy” Manalo on Monday.

PNP spokesman Senior Superintendent Leonardo Espina also said that police officials of the Quezon City Police District have also been ordered by Verzosa to serve as pallbearers of the casket containing the remains of the INC leader.

The PNP has also designated two lanes along Commonwealth Avenue (on the side of the Central Temple) and a lane (on the side of the University of the Philippines) for parking.

Malacañang said flags in government offices or institutions will be flown at half-mast on that day to show respect for the spiritual leader, who passed away on Aug. 31 at the age of 84.

Manalo passed away at 3:53 p.m. last Monday at his home due to cardiopulmonary arrest.

He took over the administration of the church after the death of his father, Bro. Felix Manalo, in 1963.

Ka Erdy, as the INC leader is known to members of the church, was born on Jan. 2, 1925. He was INC founder Felix Manalo’s fifth child.

For 46 years Ka Erdy was instrumental in the propagation and expansion of the INC whose membership has been estimated at eight million nationwide and in more than 60 other countries. —Mike Frialde