Senate committee OKs Aumentado bills

By Marlon Balmadrid

  

QUEZON CITY – The Senate Committee on Public Works and Highways approved three House Bills principally authored by the late Rep. Erico Aumentado (2nd district, Bohol) during a public hearing Wednesday.

Chief Political Affairs Officer and the solon’s son Aris Aumentado said Sen. Ramon “Bong” Revilla Jr., committee chair, presided over the discussions on airport development, road conversion and establishment of district engineering offices in different parts of the country and approved, among others, House Bills 386, 2437 and 6569.

HB No. 386 seeks to convert the Bohol 2nd Engineering Sub-District Office into a regular engineering district to be known as the Bohol 2nd Engineering District. The district covers Pres. Garcia, Ubay, Bien Unido, Trinidad, Talibon, Getafe, Buenavista, Inabanga, Clarin, Sagbayan, San Isidro, Dagohoy, Danao and San Miguel towns, all in the 2nd congressional district of Bohol that are now under the sub-district office.

The district office shall still be located in Ubay, situs of the Bohol 2nd Engineering Sub-District Office urged to be converted into a full-fledged engineering district. It will still maintain the present 209.931 kilometers of national roads and 1,525.40 linear meters of bridges.

Aumentado said the conversion will result to a more closely supervised and effective implementation of the infrastructure program of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) and other agencies that depend on it to implement their infrastructure projects.

It will hasten the pace of project implementation, bring the government closer to the people in hinterland and island barangays, expedite the improvement of the capital resources of the province and its economic development particularly in the 2nd district, and generate more employment within its jurisdiction, he added.

HB 2437 or the Ubay Airport Development Act, intends to develop the Ubay airport built by the Americans before World War II in barangay Camambugan. It covers 54 hectares owned by the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP), located on flat terrain ideal for an airport, with huge potential for expansion due Camambugan’s highly agricultural landscape,. The development of the airport has become imperative in the light of the selection of Ubay – the biggest town of Bohol in land area, population and income – as the tourism hub in the northeast corridor under the Bohol Tourism Master Plan crafted by Pacific Consultants Inc. of Japan.

The Ubay airport, together with its fast developing port, is eyed as a major support infrastructure of the Multi-Industrial Cluster (MIC) development strategy covered by an executive agreement between South Korea and the Philippines.

The Ubay Airport Development Project shall cover its feasibility study, engineering design, improvement of the existing runway, construction of a terminal building, installation of navigation and lighting facilities and all the equipment required for domestic commercial and aviation training flights.

Once upgraded, the airport can accommodate domestic flights to spur tourism, commerce and industry in the northeastern corridor of Bohol. The airport furthermore can host aviation schools and serve as training facility to relieve Mactan-Cebu International Airport and the Tagbilaran Airport from training flights of aviation students. The Ubay airport is also included in the CAAP annual investment plan for development.

HB 387 seeks to convert the provincial roads in the island town of Pres. Garcia into national roads. These are the 12.7-kilometer Popoo-Tugas road, 6.5-km Pitogo-Aguining road and the 3.88-km Villa Milagrosa-San Vicente-Pitogo (Poblacion) diversion road, for a total of 23.08 kms.

These roads all lead to the Pres. Garcia municipal wharf and the strategic Popoo barge landing facility which link the island to mainland Bohol thru Tapal Wharf in Ubay, Cebu City, Bato (Leyte) and Maasin City (Southern Leyte), and would greatly enhance commerce and industry in the area, as well as to the vital fishport of Aguining, the solon had said.

The municipal government of Pres. Garcia has strongly clamored for the road nationalization so that it can be properly maintained considering that passenger vehicles now travel regularly within the island. More vehicles are expected with the regular trips of barges and pump boats plying the Tapal-Popoo route. The provincial and municipal local governments coordinated in securing the road right of way required for a national highway.

The road network, once nationalized, is seen to further give convenience by offering safe highways for the travelling public, easy mobility of cargoes and essential commodities and hasten the economic development of the island town.

Aris, who is set to file his candidacy as replacement candidate for his father expressed elation over the bills’ committee approval.

Present during the public hearing were Sen. Franklin Drilon, representatives from DPWH, CAAP and other House members who filed similar bills for their respective districts.

Revilla expressed confidence that the approved measures bills will pass into law within two weeks or before the 15th Congress adjourns.

Necrological Services at Batasan, Quezon City Part 6

NECROLOGICAL SERVICES

FOR THE LATE

CONGRESSMAN ERICO B. AUMENTADO

THE SECRETARY GENERAL.  Ms. Jiselle Rae AumentadoVillamor will deliver the response.

RESPONSE OF MS. VILLAMOR

MS. VILLAMOR.  Humility, prayer, honesty, generosity, reconciliation, integrity, words so simple yet it made a life.  The very reasons why I pay the highest respect to the man we honor today, my Lolo Rico.

Hearing those eulogies from Lolo’s colleagues, the respect I have and the love I have for my Lolo Rico is beyond measure.  I know it is but appropriate to say smile in this time when we lose a man we love so dearly.  Yet this day, I just realized, just awhile ago, that we should also celebrate the life Lolo Rico had—a life that was full.  He was an achiever.  He achieved so many things.  He touched so many lives.  Service was his life.  His dedication was unfathomable.  He truly is a champion for public service and I know why.  He is a man with virtues.  His values are way bigger than what he achieved.

To all of you, to those whom my Lolo Rico had touched their lives, how can I tell you to smile for the good memories you had with him when we just can’t stop crying.  He is deeply missed.  He will always be remembered.  I know that each and every one of us has stories to tell about my Lolo.  And I had learned and realized that the amount of hurt one feels is directly proportional to how much we love that person.  We are so hurt because we love Lolo Rico.  And in return, we know how much he loves us all.

His children and his grandchildren, great grandchildren, and my Lola Greenie loves him so much because we know, we are very much aware how much Lolo Rico loves us.  He loves us because he cares for us and he always include us in his prayers.  He reached out to his grandchildren and great grandchildren, even if they are far away from him, through his prayers.

I wish all of these that is happening is just a dream I would wake up from and see the smiling face my Lolo Rico would greet every morning, “Good morning my sweetie pie bulilit.”  But it’s not.  This is reality, and the thought that we are not going see and feel Lolo Rico forever breaks our hearts.  But life must go on.  There is no other way but to move forward because we know that he will be happy to see us happy with our lives even without him, but his memories kept in our hearts.

Let me take this opportunity that from the bottom of our hearts as a family, we say thank you to his friends, to his colleagues and to all those behind him for the support, friendship that you had for Lolo Rico.  You made his life colorful and fulfilling.

To Lolo Rico, thank you for everything.  We will miss you so much.  And yes, Lolo Rico, I would still continue the race and finish this battle even without your presence but I’ll always have you in my heart.  You are the greatest gift God has given to us.  We are blessed, more than lucky to have you.  You are one of a kind man and your virtues are beyond measure.

Thank you so much, Lolo Rico.  We love you so much.

THE SPEAKER.  The House would like the family of the late Honorable Erico B. Aumentado to receive this offering of legislative memorabilia and the Secretary General is requested to escort the bereaved family to the rostrum to accept the House mementos. 

The family of the late Honorable Erico B. Aumentado ascended the rostrum to accept the House mementos.

THE SECRETARY GENERAL.Mason’s “Nearer My God to Thee” to be played by the Philippine National Police Band.

The Philippine National Police Band played Mason’s “Nearer My God to Thee”.

THE SPEAKER.  The necrological services are now ended.

Thank you to all.

It was 11:53 a.m.

Necrological Services at Batasan, Quezon City Part 5

NECROLOGICAL SERVICES

FOR THE LATE

CONGRESSMAN ERICO B. AUMENTADO

THE SECRETARY GENERAL.  The Honorable Feliciano Belmonte Jr., Speaker of the House of Representatives, will now bid goodbye to the late Honorable Erico B. Aumentado.

EULOGY OF SPEAKER FELICIANO BELMONTE JR.

THE SPEAKER.My  colleagues in Congress, the bereaved family of our colleague, EricoAumentado, and the visitors who are here. 

You know, when I got elected Speaker in 2011 and we were  putting together the list of the leaders of this Chamber, who will be chairman of this, who will be chairman  of that, I picked Eric to be the Chairman of the Committee on Ethics and  Privileges.    

One of the powerful people mentioned to me, that he had learned or he knew that all chairmanships were reserved for members of the Majority, yet Eric was a member of the Minority.  And I said, I know Eric, he is the proper man for that position.  And he did serve with great distinction because there were also many challenges during this 15^th Congress.

We paid tribute to Eric, a colleague who was  truly a gentleman and an honorable Member of Congress.  Indeed, it is his sterling character which made him an outstanding Congressman and a governor par excellence. 

When our colleague, Erico, assumed office as governor in 2001, Bohol was one of the 20 poorest provinces in the country.  In nine years, he transformed Bohol into a progressive, peaceful and model community.   Without knowing the details, I felt in going to Bohol during his incumbency, that things had changed.  Things looked expansive.  I could see great works as expressed by my colleagues---the highway. 

He had a dream too when we were together here in the 9^th Congress.  That was the first time people were talking about putting up an international airport in Panglao and he was an adherent, not only adherent but he was very much for it and pushing it. 

He gained the trust and confidence of local and foreign agencies for his programs and projects.  Hindi namannanggalingsabulsanglahatito kung hinditalagangnabilibsakanyaangmga foreign agencies.  And Bohol was among those which received the most programs.

Today, Bohol is a prime tourist destination.  A recipient of various grants and many prestigious awards from local and international institutions.  He persuaded a fanatical sect and the dissident  movement in Bohol  to lay   down their arms and help him accomplish his mission.  Thus, Bohol is a very peaceful province.  It is one of those provinces that you could walk around in  without fear that someone abduct you or harm you.

Congressman Aumentado easily won the friendship and respect of his colleagues for his humility and/or vision. He showed true grit, brilliance and unbending commitment to principles when he successfully prevented, as my colleague, Girlie Villarosa, pointed out, the approval of a resolution which sought to grant a special favor to a Member of the House.

The Journal of the Ethics Committee of the House reflects the outstanding participation of the Congressman from the Second District of Bohol in committee and plenary sessions, as has been mentioned.

Congressman Aumentado demanded strict compliance with quality standards for all his projects. His sincerity and dedications gained the support of his constituents. And if anybody offered him some kind of a reward, he would point to the Church, he would point to some charitable institution, “Kung kayo grateful, doonninyoibigayangtulong.”

Orphaned at the age of eight, Erico struggled hard to get an education. Kind souls helped him through high school and college. Scholarships made it possible for him to finish law and distinguish himself in the legal profession. He was cited by the Citizens Legal Society of the Philippines for organizing a chapter in Bohol and for giving legal services pro bono to poor litigants.

Yes, he was a dear and close friend of mine. We both started in journalism. Those are our first jobs. He was the editor of a provincial paper. I was a police reporter of a Manila paper. We are both lawyers. We served together as Congressmen for three terms, from 1992 to 2001, along with Danny Suarez and the others he mentioned.  He was Deputy Speaker when I first served as Speaker in 2001.  He was governor of Bohol when I was Mayor of Quezon City also for three consecutive terms, from 2001 to 2010 and we came back to the House for the 15^th Congress. He has left us, but let us honor him and revere his memory by enriching his legacy.

Actually, I first met Eric when he was a board member. We handled a case in Cebu together and later on, the case had ramifications in Manila, so we agreed he would handle it in Cebu and I would pursue it in Manila.

Time and again, we would meet. In fact, I wasn’t even aware that he was already a board member when I first met him because he was, by nature, humble, soft spoken. Of course, we soon find that behind the soft words, there was person who was firm is his beliefs and his principles.

We would meet socially, Jaycees, other organizations like that. And finally, we met when we both were first elected Congressmen in 1992.  His political ascendancy is phenomenal and remarkable. He does not belong to an established and powerful political clan, neither was he scion of a wealthy family, yet he come from the clutches of poverty and he got himself out of it, yet he easily won in all elections and got elected and reelected as a board member, vice governor, and Congressman. He had no gold, no goons, no guns, yet he never lost in any elections.

Our colleague was highly successful because he was, firstly, dedicated to his work. Public service was to him, not only a calling, but a passion.

 As many of us recall and as his own family recall, even in his final illness, he would still seek pen and paper and write notes and memos. It was driving him, his need to work, his need to serve.

People, politics had gained and unsavory connotation sometimes and had become even a pejorative term, but EricoAumentado made politics an honorable and respected profession.

EricoAumentado deserves a niche in the pantheon of our great leaders. He was an exemplary public servant. To him, public service was almost a religion.

To his wife Greenie, I wish that you are assuaged at this hour by our grief, this grief that we share with you at his untimely loss, and our fervent prayers for Eric’s safe journey to God’s eternal care. 

To his children and grandchildren, your father, your grandfather was as gentle as he was strong.  He was persevering in his advocacies and passionate with public service.  We feel sadness at his demise but forever grateful for having known him, for having known his legacy.

Farewell, Eric, because that was the way I called him, farewell, Eric, I know God will lead you, will lead you to His presence. 

THE SECRETARY GENERAL.  Ms. Myra Tuazon will now sing “Sino Ako” by Jamie Rivera.

Ms. Myra Tuazon sang “Sino Ako” by Jamie Rivera.

Necrological Services at Batasan, Quezon City Part 4

NECROLOGICAL SERVICES

FOR THE LATE

CONGRESSMAN ERICO B. AUMENTADO

THE SECRETARY GENERAL.Eulogy by the Honorable Danilo Suarez, Minority Leader and Representative from the Third District of Quezon.

EULOGY OF REP. SUAREZ

REP. SUAREZ.  Ladies and Gentlemen, distinguished colleagues, a pleasant day to all of you.

Si Eric ho, kagayangsinabini Congresswoman Villarosa, ay ka-batchmatekong 1992.  And there are some here, starting with the Speaker, Congressman Villarosa, Congresswoman Sandy Ocampo, Congressman Fuentebella, Congressman Gullas, Congressman Adasa.  Marami pa palatayongnatitira,  no, '87 si Albano.

Si Eric ho ay isang achiever.  And sa profession na napili natin bilang politician at public servant, we will come and simply fade away.  Perosi Eric ho, kahit na pumanaw na sa lalawigan ng Bohol, ay hindi makakalimutan ng napakatagal na henerasyon na darating.  Iyong mga sinabing mga kasamahan kong nagawa niya, katulad ng circumferential road, mabibilang po natin sa daliri na tinangisang mambabatas na makakagawang 250 kilometers na paved road sa kanyang panunungkulan.  At iyong mga nakaranas nang hirap bumagtas sa mahirap na lansangan, sa mga darating na henerasyon ay sasabihin nilang ang gumawa nito ay si Congressman Eric Aumentado.  Kapag may mga lumipad, dumating, nag-take-off na eroplano, matatandaan nila, ang terminal naito ay sinimulanni Eric. Kung kaya't sa amin, sa batch of '92, we are proud that some of our members shone during their days as political leaders, at isa na diyan si Eric.  Bihira ho ang may ganitong track record, siguro nga yon ko lang — revelation ho ito na '67 pa ay elected na siya, tuloy-tuloy ang paglilingkod at walang talo.  Kaya't napakahirap mapantayan, nguni't napakagandang tingnan nahalimbawang isang mahusay na lider.

Kaya't in this Chamber  that is full of achievers and leaders, the previous enumerations may seem just par for the course.  In my eyes, Eric's most admirable and inspiring achievement is to rise above extreme poverty.  Siguro kaya ko nararamdaman iyan, pareho din ho kaming nanggaling sa mahirap.  That a man of humble beginnings rose to become a stellar leader of men, an asset to the nation's growth and a devoted father to his family, is what we celebrate today.

I am humbled and honored by your friendship, Eric, warmth and sincerity, and I  will remember our days in Congress with much fondness.

Rest in God's loving hands, my dear friend.

Necrological Services at Batasan, Quezon City Part 3

NECROLOGICAL SERVICES

FOR THE LATE

CONGRESSMAN ERICO B. AUMENTADO

THE SECRETARY GENERAL.Eulogy by the Honorable Eduardo R. Gullas, Representative from the First District of Cebu.

EULOGY OF REP. GULLAS

REP. GULLAS.  Early in my freshman college years at the Pontifical University of Santo Tomas, I learned from the erudite, learned and holy Reverend Father Angel Blas, professor, writer, author, and Father Rector that man is made up of body and soul.

The body dies but the soul is immortal.  No truer and more valid knowledge and truth than this scholastic philosophy teaching can man find.

Therefore, though the body of my dearest friend dies, his soul lives on.

It would be too much to ask, it would be too unhuman to expect Comadre Greenie and the children, the grandchildren, the brothers and sisters of Compadre Rico not to grieve.  Human as we are, the only recourse we have is to cry.  Tears are our only refuge.  For after all, they are mandated by heaven to fall.

But we must pray as we cry.  We must ask the Lord as we grieve, to receive his soul in God's bosom.

           

I am most aware of my inadequacy to extol Congressman Erico but let me try.  Elected and served as a provincial board member, later on as vice governor.  Elected Congressman in the 9th, the 10th and the 11th Congress and in the middle of the 11th Congress, elected Deputy Speaker.  Elected governor 2001 to 2004, 2004 to 2007 and 2007 to 2010.  Elected RDC Chair and then elected Congressman again last May 2010.

           

Earlier on, he graduated valedictorian in both elementary and high school.  Even as a working student at the University of Bohol, he finished his BA, Magna Cum Laude, his law, Cum Laude. 

           

In all these positions that he occupied--as a student, scholar, despite being a working student, as a lawyer, a trial lawyer, a public servant, Erico did it with the greatest of skill, with utmost devotion and with honor.

           

Time is truly fleeting and swift.  It was only as if yesterday, Compadre Rico and I found ourselves working as fellow workers in the Regional Development Council of Region VII.  I had the honor to serve as Chair and he was one of the province of Bohol's young, brilliant leaders.

           

At the end of the year, we won the star-symbol of excellence.  Among all the RDCs in the country, we crafted the first Regional Development Investment Program.  So impressed, the World Bank adopted RDC-7 and the Central Visayas Regional Project came into being.

           

And then, Congressman Erico went on to conquer more stars--250-kilometer paved circumferential Bohol road; three huge dams to irrigate barren fields in Ubay, his beloved hometown, Pilar and San Miguel; power interconnection thru submarine cable connected from Leyte lighted the whole province of Bohol;  Panglao International Airport; and the last one, he dreamed of a bridge to connect Jetafe town of Bohol to Cordova passing thru the island of Pandanon.

            The kindest words we can muster and the most heartfelt paeans of appreciation we can offer today sound so hollow, and are so ruefully inadequate to honor the memory of this Boholano.

            The people of the whole province of Bohol and the constituents of the Second District, whom Compadre Rico served so humbly yet so honorably and so brilliantly, pause to do honor and homage to a real servant leader.

            I thank you Compadre Rico and the whole family for your friendship.  Indeed you shall be missed.

Your monument need not be erected in marble for it is enshrined in the hearts of each and every Boholono.

And finally, may I conclude with the very inspiring prayer of the great Saint of Assisi,  St. Francis of Assisi.

Lord, make me an instrument of Your peace.  Where there is hatred, let me sow love; where there is injury, pardon; where there is doubt, faith; where there is despair, hope; where there is darkness, light; and where there is sadness, joy.

O Divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled as to console; to be understood as to understand; to be loved as to love.

For it is in giving that we receive; it is in pardoning that we are pardoned; and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.

Amen.

Necrological Services at Batasan, Quezon City Part 2

NECROLOGICAL SERVICES

FOR THE LATE

CONGRESSMAN ERICO B. AUMENTADO

Eulogy of Rep. Calimbas-Villarosa

REP. CALIMBAS-VILLAROSA.  It is most difficult to bid farewell to an esteemed colleague, who for decades served our country with devotion.  We are gathered here to bid our final goodbye to him – the Honorable Erico B. Aumentado.

Ricdoy, as he is fondly called, was a truly dedicated public servant.  He rose from extreme poverty to become a scholar, journalist, lawyer and public servant.  As an elected official, he served as senior provincial board member, vice-governor, Congressman and governor of the province of Bohol.  In the House of Representatives, he became Deputy Speaker and chairman of the influential 52-member bloc of Visayas Congressmen.  After serving as the only governor of Bohol for an unprecendented three consecutive terms, he was reelected as Congressman of the Second District, thus making a record of having won all his political battles since 1967.

While governor of the province of Bohol, he was responsible for restoring Bohol as one of the country’s most peaceful provinces through his program on poverty reduction for peace and development which triggered the socioeconomic development and tourism of the province.  This achievement brought in mega-infrastructure projects such as the Bohol Northeast Basin Multi-Purpose Dam, Bohol Circumferential Road Project, Bohol Irrigation Project Stages 1 and 2 and Leyte-Bohol Interconnection Projects, among others.

As a Member of the House of Representatives, he was best remembered by his peers for two unprecedented events:  First, as Vice-Chairman of the Committee on Appropriations when he stood for 12 hours to defend the General Appropriations Act of 1999, considered to be the longest budget defense in the history of Congress; and second, as Chairman of the Committee on Ethics, when he stood alone to successfully foil a House resolution asking the Supreme Court to allow a Congressman convicted of statutory rape to attend legislative sessions.

During his stint in Congress, he authored and coauthored many bills which were enacted into laws.  These include the Social Security Act of 1997, Republic Act No. 8282, the Agriculture and Fisheries Modernization Act of 1998, Republic Act No. 8435; and the GSIS Act of 1997, Republic Act No. 8291, among others.  As an esteemed Member of Congress, he was invited as keynote speaker in various international symposia and conferences on human rights, among which was when he was invited to speak on crime prevention and criminal justice and international drug control before the United Nations General Assembly in New York, USA on December 17-24, 1999.

As an accomplished public servant, Honorable Aumentado held various positions such as past National President of the League of the Philippines and the Union of Local Authority of the Philippines, and Deputy Speaker for Visayas in the House of Representatives.

More than the grief I share with his family, Ricdoy will surely be missed not only by his family and provincemates but also by the entire Filipino people.  His ideals and steadfast commitment to serve should be an inspiration to our youth and future leaders to serve our country in the same mold and with the same dedication showed by Honorable Aumentado.

As you start a new journey, my friend, take comfort in the thought that your colleagues in the House of Representatives have and will continue to remain faithful and steadfast to the ideals and visions which you have always espoused.

My husband, the former Congressman Jose TapalesVillarosa, is a batchmate on the 9^th and 10^th Congress of the Honorable Aumentado, and he came all the way from Mindoro to be with him today.

Ricdoy, may God be with you.

Necrological Services at Batasan, Quezon City Part 1

NECROLOGICAL SERVICES

FOR THE LATE

CONGRESSMAN ERICO B. AUMENTADO

At 11:01 a.m., Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr. opened the necrological services.

THE SPEAKER.  The necrological services in honor of the late Honorable Erico B. Aumentado, our colleague, Representative from the Second District of Bohol, will now commence.  I call on the Secretary General to read the order of services.

THE SECRETARY GENERAL.Order of proceedings of the necrological services for the late Honorable Erico B. Aumentado.

Buenaventura's “In Memoriam” to be played by the Philippine National Police Band.

The Philippine National Police Band played “In Memoriam” by Buenaventura.

THE SECRETARY GENERAL.Invocation by the Honorable Rachel Marguerite B. Del Mar, Representative from the First District of Cebu City.

May we request everybody to please rise.

Everybody rose for the Invocation.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

INVOCATION

REP. DEL MAR.  In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.  Amen.

Let us put ourselves in the presence of God.

Lord, You are the giver of life.  Give us comfort in this time of sadness for the sudden loss of our friend and colleague, Cong. Erico.  You alone can give us true comfort and peace because You are the source of all mercy, kindness and peace.

In this Christmas season, we call on You, Prince of peace, grant us, especially Cong. Erico’s family, inner peace and, in spite of all, external grief.

Lord, You are truly the author of life.  You alone decide when to give life and when to take it away.  We would have wanted Cong. Erico to stay longer with us and be of longer service to Your people.  But in the depths of divine wisdom, we know that You have chosen the best time for Cong. Erico to return to Your presence.

May the consolation of Mary and Joseph, who were with You at Your birth in Nazareth, and especially of Your Blessed Mother, who stood right before the cross at the time of Your death, be with us always, especially with the family that was left behind by Cong. Erico.

I would like to share with you something a father once said to his daughter when he knew he was seeing her for the last time.

“I wish you enough sun to keep your attitude bright.

I wish you enough ray to appreciate the sun more.

I wish you enough happiness to keep you spirit alive.

I wish you enough pain so that the smallest joys in life appear much bigger.

I wish you enough gain to satisfy your wanting.

I wish you enough loss to appreciate all you possess.

And I wish you enough hellos to get you through the final goodbye.”

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.  Amen.

THE SECRETARY GENERAL.  Miss Myra Tuazon will sing Hindi Kita Malilimutan by Fr. Manoling Francisco, S.J.

Ms. Myra Tuazon sang “Hindi Kita Malilimutan” by Fr. Manoling Francisco, S.J.

THE SECRETARY GENERAL.Eulogy by the Honorable Ma.Amelita A. Calimbas-Villarosa, Representative from the Lone District of Occidental Mindoro.

Aris is replacement candidate for father

By JUNE S. BLANCO

REP. Erico Aumentado (2nd District, Bohol) may have passed on but his son Erico Aristotle or “Aris” to family and friends – is picking up where he left off.

On top of the P26 million earlier released, another P30 million worth of projects that Aris will identify is due for release from the first quarter 2013 tranche of the solon’s Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF).

Aris has been making the rounds of the towns and barangays in the district to identify priority projects – guided by the qualification criteria set by his father.

His father has two more terms as congressman. The family has decided that Aris will run as replacement candidate. He will file his certificate of candidacy (COC) on February 4 – a day after the 40^th day prayers for his father who was a devout Catholic.

While Aris is the first Aumentado scion to run for an elective position, he is no greenhorn. Being the youngest of eight children whose father entered the political arena when his mother was pregnant with her first child, Aris eats and breathes politics.

His political acumen was heightened when the solon gave him assignments for the district albeit unofficially at first, and especially honed when he was appointed as the congressman’s chief of staff during this, his fourth term. Aumentado had completed three terms or nine years as congressman and became governor of Bohol for an unprecedented three terms before cinching the Congressional seat again in 2010.

For this, his first time to throw his hat into the political arena, Aris already has the blessing of the solon. Prior to that, running for an elective position was a no-no for any Aumentado for that matter because the solon was a co-author of the anti-dynasty bill. 

Published at Bohol Chronicle newspaper [link]

P26.6M more for projects released from Rico PDAF

Aris and Cong. EBA

By Marlon Balmadrid  

QUEZON CITY –Rep. Erico Aumentado (2nd District, Bohol) may have passed on but his projects will still be implemented.

This after the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) released a total of P26.6 million from the late solon’s Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF), says  Erico Aristotle “Aris” Aumentado, the lawmaker’s son and chief of staff.

The younger Aumentado said some of the funds have already been allocated to their implementing agencies in the district, while some were just released.

A total of P8.4 million was allocated for financial assistance to livelihood, scholarship, electrification and feeding programs, among others. A reverse osmosis machine was purchased for the dialysis section of the Don Emilio Del Valle Memorial Hospital in Ubay, counterpart funding for the acquisition of 100 KVA generating set under the KALAHI – CIDDS program in Cabul-an West in Buenavista town, initial distribution of pipes for waterworks systems districtwide, scholarship programs for poor but deserving college students in various schools, purchase of sports equipment, assistance to small and medium enterprise and financial assistance for the livelihood and implementation of crops farmers urea fertilizer assistance to support rice ratooning as 3rd cropping in 3,000 hectares of irrigated lands devoted to hybrid and in-bred rice.

The bigger part is for infrastructure projects. Aumentado said P18.2 million will be for the repair and rehabilitation of the Mahanay Island causeway in Talibon, barangay roads, repair and completion of the roofing of the Bugang public market in San Miguel, construction and improvement of municipal/barangay waterworks systems, construction of multi-purpose buildings and pavements, and improvement of a two-classroom school building in the Clarin campus of the Bohol Island State University.

Faced with clamor for him to run for a seat in Congress in lieu of his father, Aumentado stressed the importance of the funds in continuing the vital projects formulated by the solon for the betterment of his district and its constituents – and Bohol in general – thus ensuring that the legacy of his father as a man of action, integrity, accountability and good governance continues even after his death.

Rep. EBA: Leader, mentor and family man

Rep. Erico B. Aumentado:

Leader, mentor and family man

May 18, 1940 – December 25, 2012

By JUNE S. BLANCO

HE WILL no longer be dictating communications or speeches again to his secretary, granddaughter or aides from that large comfortable swivel chair in his home-cum-district office or his Congressional office for that matter.

Bohol – nay, the country – has lost a good man.

Rep. Erico Boyles Aumentado of Bohol’s 2^nd District succumbed to complications of pneumonia at the St. Luke’s Medical Center in Taguig City at 8:37 p.m. on Christmas night – the gloomiest and saddest for the family – but which will turn out to be another reason for them to troop home on future Christmases. He was a man who loved to have his family, friends and staff around him. He was 72.

He died with his boots on – still insisting on reading communications even in his hospital bed – and even pestering his doctors for permission to attend the sessions of the 15^th Congress that was already tackling, among others, the Reproductive Health bill. He had made a stand; he was against it.

He had pulled the caper before and got away with it – wangling a pass from the hospital to attend a session, or “escaping” as his aides call it, to spend his birthday at home.

This was not to be one of those capers, however. Death overcame him before he could. But he did go to the plenary hall one last time as his colleagues, wearing black arm bands, with the Batasang Pambansa flag flown at half-mast, honored him with necrological services Thursday.

In her eulogy, Occidental Mindoro Rep. Amelita Villarosa, fellow House minority member, said Aumentado distinguished himself in the four terms he served in the legislature on top of bringing progress to Bohol.

She said Aumentado once stood on the floor for 12 hours to defend the 1999 budget bill - the longest budget defense in the history of the House of Representatives.

She also said he had stood alone on the floor in 1999 to foil a House resolution that had asked the Supreme Court to allow a solon convicted of statutory rape to serve in congress.

Speaker Feliciano Belmonte said the lawmaker served as ethics committee chairman “with distinction.” He had picked Aumentado to head that committee with no qualms even if the latter belonged to the minority.

Committee chairmanships are usually awarded to members of the majority but Belmonte justified his choice: “He’s the proper man for that position,” he said, adding that “Aumentado had not come from a political family or a wealthy clan and earned respect in public office through hard work.”

“Public service was to him not only a calling but a passion,” he said. “To him, public service was almost a religion.”

Belmonte recalled that whenever Aumentado was given a reward, he would instead refer the persons giving it to him to the church.

Parishioners of the Santo Niño Church in Poblacion and in Barangay San Pascual both in his hometown of Ubay, the Our Lady of Guadalupe Church in Sevilla, the hometown of his wife Grenie, and even inmates of the Bohol District Jail, among others, can attest to that. And the list is still long.

Aumentado, a lawyer, also provided pro bono legal services to the poor, Belmonte had said Among his cherished awards is the one given by the Citizens’ Legal Aid Society of the Philippines (Clasp) – in recognition of his brilliant and courageous performance in bringing justice within the reach of the poor and for his continuing devotion to the cause of legal aid in the Philippines. Aumentado founded the Clasp Bohol chapter.

Cebu Rep. Eduardo Gullas said that in all the positions Aumentado occupied, he served with great skill and distinction. He also never lost any of his bids for a public position.

His political career started in 1967 when then governor and later, President Carlos P. Garcia “pushed” the newly married young lawyer into running for Provincial Board member. At 27, he was the youngest to be elected as such, and was senior board member to boot for two terms, with extension until 1980.

There was no turning back since then. He was a Sangguniang Panlalawigan member from 1980-1986, vice governor from 1988-1992, congressman for three terms from 1992-2001, governor of Bohol from 2001 to 2010 and congressman from 2010 until his passing.

He was Deputy Speaker of the House from 2000 to 2001, and was president both of the League of Provinces of the Philippines (LPP) and the Union of Local Authorities of the Philippines (Ulap) during his first two terms as governor. He declined the position in his last term in order to devote more time to his home province and his family.

He used to jest that he received a memorandum from his grandchildren reminding him that Sunday was “family day”.

Minority Leader Danilo Suarez praised Aumentado’s infrastructure projects for Bohol, and further hailed him for being a man of humble beginnings who rose to become a leader of men.

The Bohol solon did his homework, pushed thru gestation (resolutions, fund sourcing for feasibility studies, detailed engineering design, civil works, etc.) and birth pains (trouble shooting) and implemented the Bohol Circumferential Road Improvement Project Phases I and II, the Bohol Irrigation Project Stages I (Malinao Dam) and II (Bayongan Dam), Leyte-Bohol Interconnection Project Phases I and II, National Transmission Corp. (Transco)-Bohol Backbone Transmission Project, Improvement of the Tagbilaran, Tubigon, Ubay and Jagna ports and the Ubay and Tagbilaran airports, improvement of bridges, public markets and the Zamora Dam.

Ongoing are the Rural Electrification Project, barangay master planning, concrete bridge along the Danao–Getafe road, P106M San Vicente–La Esperanza (Dagohoy)–Concepcion (Danao) road, P139M Sagbayan-Danao road concreting, waterworks systems, medical and surgical missions, P14M Getafe-Jandayan Interconnection Project, school buildings, flood control projects in Sagbayan, P14 million, and Inabanga, P10 million, Hello Bohol (livestock dispersal) Project, livelihood projects with the Department of Labor and Employment, distribution of computers and internet accessing, tractors for hybrid rice and corn projects, rice ratooning project, Extreme Adventure Tourism in Danao, barangay health centers, solar dryers, Botica ng Barangay, multi-purpose buildings with stages, Land Administration and Management Project (LAMP), and others.

He had worked for and had received the grant from the Korean Government for the recently inaugurated Rice Processing Complex in Pilar town.

Aumentado was orphaned by his father when he was only eight. He joined a fishing crew at night to help his mother support his studies by day – and those of his siblings. He graduated valedictorian from the Ubay Central Elementary School.

He broke his piggy bank and his life’s savings then of P50 launched his buy-and-sell career of broken bottles and other recyclables that he sold in Cebu. In turn, he bought basins, pails, kettles and other utensils for his mother to sell during Mondays – Ubay’s market day.

Business was quite good, and soon, he and his siblings had to help their mother sell the items. But helping out during market days took a toll on his school attendance.

Thinking that he had been plain playing hooky, his school director called his attention. To his credit and his surprise, Msgr. Margarito Gonzaga, then school director, understood his predicament, took pity on him, his siblings and other students in the same situation, and moved school days to Tuesdays to Saturdays instead. He graduated valedictorian from the Holy Child Academy.

He pursued higher education at the Rafael Palma College, now University of Bohol, on full scholarship. He earned stipends by writing for the school paper, and working for a local newspaper and later, as correspondent for a national paper. He graduated with highest honors in Pre-Law, magna cum laude in Bachelor of Arts in 1960, and cum laude in Bachelor of Laws in 1964.

Aumentado is dedicated to his work. He often emphasized that he did not work just for show, or to harvest awards; he worked because that was his job. But in the process, he did reap recognition.

He treasured most his Golden Heart Award for Humanitarian Service, his Konrad Adenauer Medal of Excellence as Outstanding Governor, Local Government Leadership Academy award as Most Outstanding Governor and a host of others for protecting the environment, pushing nutrition, promoting Bohol as a tourist destination, Gawad Galing Pook for eco-tourism, coastal law enforcement, local peace building initiatives and the Award of Excellence (ACE) for maintaining the above initiatives for at least three years, among others.

For the environmental management system (EMS) initiatives the province pursued during his watch, Bohol was issued an ISO 14001 Certification. And the list of awards is still long.

Also under his stewardship, the Bohol Branches of the Government Service Insurance System, Social Security System, National Bureau of Investigation, the Region 7 office of the National Irrigation Administration in Tagbilaran City, the Philippine Carabao Center at the Ubay Stock Farm, the Don Emilio del Valle Memorial Hospital in Ubay and the Bohol Medical Care Institute were established – to give his consitutents accessibility to the services of these offices at minimal cost compared to having to go to Cebu or Manila.

At the House, on top of his chairmanship of the Ethics and Privileges Committee, he was a member for the minority of the committees onagriculture and food, appropriations, basic education and culture, Constitutional amendments, good government and public accountability, local government, public works and highways, suffrage and electoral reforms, tourism, transportation, as well as ways and means.

He is survived by his wife, the former Peregrina Adlaon Cabagnot, eight children, 19 grandchildren and four great grandchildren.

His family and staff may never find words encompassing enough to express their grief over the loss and their gratitude for the outpouring of sympathy.

But let this poem, attributed to Rose de Leon, written while a girl was in the healing process after losing her father, narrow the gap:

we thought of you with love today

but that is nothing new

we thought about you yesterday

and days before that too

we think of you in silence

we often speak your name

now all we have are memories

and your picture in a frame

your memory is our keepsake

with which we'll never part

God has you in his keeping

we have you in our hearts...

his oath as board member in the presence of (from left to right) his wife
Peregrina C. Aumentado,  late Pres. Carlos P. Garcia
and Pres. Ferdinand E. Marcos

Photos on his office when he was yet governor of Bohol:

Photos on his office now as congressman, 2nd district of Bohol:

Videos from national media : 

DZMM - Rep. Erico Aumentado, pumanaw na [link]
GMA News video - Bohol Rep. Erico Aumentado, pumanaw sa edad na 72 [link]
GMA News video - Requim mass at Necrological services para kay Rep. Aumentado  [link]
PTV Philippines - Necrological rites for Rep. Aumentado [link]

Other videos :

Youtube - EBA on Peace and Development [link]
Youtube - EBA on Health [link]
Youtube - EBA on Political Dynasty [link]
Youtube - Clip from Msgr. Medroso (Bishop of Tagbilaran Diocese) [link]
Youtube - In Memoriam: EBA Bohol Today by Johnny Torralba [link]
Youtube - In Memoriam: EBA by: Bohol Tourism Office [link]
Youtube - Flower drop last January 5, 2013 at 11:30 am [link]
Youtube - Ang Bagong Pakikibaka [link]

Links : 

ABS-CBN News - Bohol Rep. Erico Aumentado dies [link]
ABS-CBN News - Aumentado's remains flown to Tagbilaran [link]
GMA Network Saksi - [link] 
GMA Network Saksi - Huling pagpupugay para kay yumaong Bohol Rep. EBA [link]
GMA News - Bohol Rep. Aumentado dies after bout with pneumonia [link]
Inquirer News - Congressman Aumentado dies due to pneumonia [link]
Inquirer News - Colleagues mourn death of Bohol congressman [link]
Inquirer News - Bohol mourns as Rep. Aumentado dies [link]
Inquirer News - Bohol solon dies at 72 [link]
Inquirer News - Aumentado made politics an honorable profession - Belmonte [link]
Inquirer News - Legislators pay tribute to Aumentado [link]
Inquirer News - Legislator's remains flown home [link]
Philippine Star - Bohol Rep. Aumentado succumbs to pneumonia [link]
Philippine Star - Bohol congressman dies of pneumonia [link]
Philippine Star - Bohol solon pumanaw [link]
Philippine Star - Bohol congressman dies at 72 [link]
Philippine Star - Aumentado son chosen caretaker of 2nd district [link]
Philippine Star - Congressman Eduardo R. Gullas eulogy [link]
The Daily Guardian - Tribute to Rep. Erico Aumentado [link]
Sun Star - Bohol Aumentado dies [link]
Sun Star - Colleagues remember Bohol's Aumentado in necrological service [link]
Rappler - Christmas death: Bohol Rep. Erico Aumentado [link]
Rappler - Solons honor late Bohol Rep. Erico Aumentado [link]
Bohol Sunday Post- Death of an era in age of scalawags [link]
Bohol Sunday Post - Son rises from giant shadow of fallen pa [link]
Diversity Human - Bohol Rep. Erico Aumentado dies at 72 [link]
Bohol Daily News - Boholanos say final goodbye to Cong. Aumentado [link]