Senate honors former Senator Ramon Revilla Sr. at 'hybrid' necrological service

The COVID-19 pandemic did not stop the Senate from holding a necrological service for former senator and movie actor Ramon Revilla Sr. on Wednesday.

The remains of the 93-year-old Revilla patriarch, who succumbed to heart failure last Friday, arrived at the Senate premises at around 11:00 a.m. and the official rites started shortly after.

The service was held at the Senate session hall where seats have been arranged with social distancing. The limited number of attendees wore face masks. Some of the eulogies and song numbers were also delivered remotely via teleconferencing.

His friends and former colleagues including basketball legend Robert Jaworski, former Presidents Joseph Estrada and Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo delivered tributes through recorded videos.

Arroyo remembered how considerate Revilla was to her during their senatorial campaign period several years ago.

"Siya lang ang hinihintay ng audience. Pagtapos ng diskurso niya, umaalis na rin ang audience kaya naman naawa si Ramon sa akin...  Ang ginagawa niya hinihintay niya ako na matapos ang aking diskurso bago siya umalis," she said.

Arroyo also shared how thoughtful the former colleague was, saying he even sent her lechon on her birthday while she was under hospital arrest.

"Ngayon talagang tinawag na siya ng Panginoon. At least bago siya pumanaw, nakita niyang malaya si Bong, nakita niyang bumalik si Bong sa Senado. Nakita pa niyang naging congressman muli si Strike, naging city Mayor si Lani at si Andeng, at si Jolo naman nakita niyang kinakatawan ang papel ng pamilya Revilla sa kinabukasan ng Cavite," she said.

Senate President Vicente Sotto III got emotional during his eulogy as he recounted the vivid memories he had with Revilla.

"Even before Ramon and I became colleagues in the Senate, my better half, Helen, was his leading lady in the movies Kapitan Kulas in 1975 and Lagablab ng Concepcion in 1977," he said, noting he was also hired as musical director in some of Revilla's hit movies.

"He would spend hours with me while I lay in the music tracks for his movies. Those were the days that we will continue to remember him by, and that we are glad to have known him up close and personal," Sotto, breaking into tears, said.

Former Laguna Governor and Senator Joey Lina delivered his eulogy at the Senate.

Lina recounted Revilla's legislative achievements such as the enactment of Republic Act No. 8370 (Children's Media Act) which required TV networks to ensure 15% or three hours of their daily airtime are for educational shows for children.

He also said Revilla pushed for Republia Act No. 9064 which calls for cash rewards and other benefits and privileges to national athletes winning gold and silver medals in national competitions.

A Senate resolution honoring the former statesman and movie star Revilla was also given by the lawmakers to his family.

Senator Bong Revilla delivered the family response, thanking his colleagues in the Senate and the friends of his father who participated in the necrological service.

"May kasabihan po na dalawang petsa lang ang maisusulat sa nitso. Pero ang pinakamahalaga ay 'yung dash sa pagitan. Today, we celebrate that dash between those two dates: March 8, 1927 and June 26, 2020," he said.

"After all, it is not the years in your life but the life in your years that count. Daddy lived 93 full years and the life he put in it was well beyond those years," he added.

The younger Revilla got emotional as he remembered that the last time his father stepped inside the Senate was when he went there to support him.

"Noong huli kang pumunta dito sa Senado, you were here to support me. 'Yung mga pagsubok na hinaharap ko during that time, Daddy as I told you, babangon. Lilinisin ko ang aking pangalan. I will prove to them na malinis," Bong said in tears.

The necrological service at the Senate finished past 12:30 p.m. 

Revilla Sr.'s remains will be brought to Bacoor, Cavite.

A motorcade will be done, to be followed by a mass at Imus Cathedral.

Water salute

A water salute was given by the Pasay City government as the convoy of the Revilla family exited the Senate premises. Fire trucks sprayed water as a sign of last respects to the former senator.

"Ngayon po kami'y patungo na sa Imus Cathedral para doon po iburol ang aking ama na sa unang pagkakataon ay ia-allow nila na iburol ang isang public servant," Bong said in a Facebook live update.

He expressed gratitude that despite the health situation, their family has been allowed to properly send off their patriarch.

Nonetheless, he urged Caviteños to stay at home as much as possible. He said he will be livestreaming the wake of his father at Imus Cathedral so as not to breach quarantine protocols.

 —KG, GMA News