The nation joined the Iglesia Ni Cristo in honoring on Monday the late INC Executive Minister Erano “Ka Erdy” G. Manalo, whose remains were laid to rest in simple yet touching ceremonies attended by the country’s top political leaders and over 50,000 of the religious sect’s followers. Rain and tears poured at the INC Central Compound on Commonwealth Avenue, Quezon City, as the body of one the country’s most revered religious leaders was deposited into a concrete white tomb, bedecked with flowers, at the center of the Tabernacle at exactly 12:15 pm on Monday.
Thousands gathered at the Tabernacle to personally witness the interment and multitudes of INC members who braved the inclement weather but were only allowed to witness the ceremonies in video walls set up outside the INC headquarters cried, many unabashedly, at the mere sight of the casket being transported to the Tabernacle.
Except for the 21-gun salute conducted by an elite squad of cadets of the Philippine Military Academy and the handing over of the INC and Philippine flags to son Eduardo Manalo and Ka Erdy’s widow Cristina, respectively, there were no other formal funeral rites conducted.
There were several changes in pall bearers – the military honor guard, INC ecclesiastical district heads and funeral personnel in full regalia – throughout the nearly one-and-half hour funeral for the 84-year-old INC head.
Prayers for the dead that are usually practiced by other religions are taboo under the INC doctrine which stresses that only God and no other intercessions and other influences will decide on the fate of a spirit.
Minutes earlier, President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo paid her final respects to Manalo and condoled with the Manalo family headed by widow, Cristina, and Manalo’s eldest son and successor, Eduardo “Ka Eddie Boy” Manalo.
Accompanied by her sons. Rep. Juan Miguel Arroyo (Lakas, Pampanga) and Diosdado Macapagal-Arroyo (Lakas-Kampi, Camarines Sur), Arroyo viewed the remains of the INC leader at the Sanctuario, where it was transferred hours before being laid to rest.
Vice President Noli De Castro substituted for Arroyo in handing over the Philippine flag to Manalo’s widow. The flag draped alternately with the INC red-green-white banner symbolized the country’s deference to Manalo whom both religious and political leaders credited for propagating the biblical teachings of the home-grown religion in at least 90 countries.
Aside from De Castro, also paying their last respects for Manalo were Chief Justice Reynato Puno, Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile, former President Joseph Estrada, former First Lady Imelda R. Marcos, Senators Manuel Villar, Francis Pangilinan, Panfilo Lacson, Jinggoy Estrada, Mar Roxas, Francis Escudero, Juan Miguel Zubiri, Loren Legarda, and Ramon Bong Revilla Jr.
Congressmen who were sighted at the funeral were Reps. Matias Defensor, Roman Romulo, Albert Garcia, Dan Fernandez, Mark Llandro Mendoza, Annie Susano, Cynthia Villar, Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr., Nanette Castelo-Daza, and Mitos Magsaysay.
Among Arroyo government officials spotted were Finance Secretary Gary Teves, Agriculture Secretary Arthur Yap, Undersecretary Verna Puyat-Romulo, former Environment Secretary Michael Defensor, Public Attorney’s Office chief Persida Acosta, and LWUA Administrator Butch Pichay.
Deputy Ombudsman Orlando Casimiro and Enrile were among the first to arrive. Casimiro was spotted at the INC compound as early as 6:45 am.
Local officials in attendance were Mayors Feliciano Belmonte Jr, of Quezon City, Alfredo Lim of Manila, Benhur Abalos of Mandaluyong City, Governors Tet Garcia of Bataan, Ningning Lazaro of Laguna, and Quezon City Councilor Winston Castelo.
INC district leaders from the 90 countries where Iglesia churches were established were present in yesterday’s funeral.
The simple rites started at exactly 11 am., when the INC flag was folded to signal the transfer of the casket to from the Sanctuario at the Main Temple to the Tabernacle which was just about 300 meters away.
From the temple, the remains were transported in a funeral limousine to the Tabernacle where at least 3,000 INC leaders and their families, mourners and sympathizers waited.
The casket arrived at the Tabernacle at 11:35 am and was put inside the temporary crypt at 12:10.
Except for the touching musical background and the wailing of some INC leaders, the ceremonies went on silently and orderly.
De Castro was given the honor of viewing the body of Manalo when the casket was opened for the last time minutes before it was to be buried.
Cristina planted a kiss at her husband’s remains as family members took a last glimpse of the well-loved religious leader.
Manalo’s ’s body will be transferred at a mausoleum which is now undergoing construction at the INC compound. The remains of his father, INC founder and Executive Minister Felix Manalo, were expected to be likewise relocated at the same mausoleum from the INC local temple in San Juan.
By BEN R. ROSARIO - www.mb.com.ph
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