Local Government of the Municipality of Mainit, Surigao del Norte; the Municipal Council (Sangguniang Bayan) of Mainit; the local government of Barangay Magsaysay; our neighbors and friends in Purok Camia...
Sa mga first cousins ni Daddy:
Kan Lola Inyang (Inocencia Simchico Patagan) - Masuhay, Guiral, Patagan families.
Kan Lolo Amon (Ramon Libarnes Mosende) - Mosende, Mosote, Labrador families.
Kan Lolo Olong (Teodulo Libarnes Mosende) - Mosende, Reliquette, Precilda, Manliguez, Balandra, Reyes families.
Kan Lola Kikay (Francisca Libarnes Mosende-Mozar) - Mozar, Avila, Rivera families.
Kan Lolo Otik (Jose Modanza Mosende) - Mosende, Reyes, Sombito families.
Sa mga second cousins ni Daddy:
The families of Mosende, Moleta, delaCosta, Behagan, Salino, Modanza, Canseko, Libarnes, Calang, Montaner, Villamon, Mupas, Banzon...
Daddy was honored by the local government by giving a Necrologial Program at the Mainit Municipal Gym on 12 April 2008.
The following sat at the presidential table: Rev. Sten Labrador, Vice Mayor Jessnar Mosende, Former SB Member Pepe Odtojan, Mayor Ramon Mondano, Former Comelec Officer Tony Sannoy, my bro-in-law from Cagayan de Oro Manong Nonoy Palabrica, Manong Fred, the three of us (Peter, Kirk, and Concon), Tita Flor (partly hidden) and Brgy. Captain Jorge Banzon.
Thank you Mano Tony (Sannoy) for highlighting your admiration to Daddy and for reminding us of the quotes from the comments of his fellow Mayors during his time, Daddy being "most eloquent, active, and handsome Mayor of Mindanao... who speaks like a Professor, a Lawyer, a Pastor, and a Priest". Thank you too for reminding us that within few months of his term, he was able to deliver significant accomplishments, among these are the long bridge in Barangay Mabini, the Mainit Municipal Abattoir (Slaughterhouse) and the surrender and reconciliation of around 300 NPAs.
Thank you too Mano Sten (Labrador) for highlighting Daddy's vision and love of Mainit. That because he was often misunderstood of his large-scale plans, he calls many Mainitnons as "turudo" which was actually meant challenging the Mainitnons to go out of their shells and think beyond the ordinary. Thank you too for highlighting that Daddy, though he had many failures and downfalls, he showed everyone how to try to stand up and rise again, and with these, his greatest achievements are the many people he has taught to be strong, to lead a good life, and to bring goodness in others... as manifested strongly in his greatest achievements... his children.
Thank you Mano Pepe (Odtojan) for sharing your brief moments of being Daddy's Sangguniang Bayan Member (you mentioned for only 18 months)... and for your gratitude, that if you were not identified to be one of his SBs, you won't have your political career... retiring undeafeated SB member of Mainit and Barangay Captain of barangay Matin-ao. Thank you for highlighting too your many joys and experiences as OIC officials of Mainit especially when Daddy led the entire LGU in getting the Municipal Firetruck. It was already meant to be given to another town, but with Daddy's leadership and push, the firetruck was given to the Municipality of Mainit. With God's blessing, after 22 years, the Municipal Firetruck is still in tack and whistling every noontime and 5 o'clock. So whenever you hear the whistle, you should be hearing "yoooooooooooooooooooonnnnnnnnnniiiiiiieeeeee". Thank you for sharing that because you had a dynamic leader who "almost does not sleep", you were able to accomplish more projects than expected (submission of proposals to finish the Mainit Public Market, the Mainit-Magpayang Road, the rehabilization of Mapaso hotspring, etc).
Thank you Mano Banoy (Vice Mayor Mosende) for sharing your admiration to the man both as a town official like Uncle Felix and as an uncle. Thank you for sharing how his presence can command laughters and giggles among his cousins and relatives. And thank you for promising to emulate the examples of the Mosende's in the tradition of leadership and service.
Thank you Mano Ramon (Mayor Mondano) for sharing your significant moments with your lumon Yonie. And thank you for being challenged, together with your Vice Mayor, to accomplish good things for Mainit during your term... "Maradjaw badja kun jaoy ato agi, maradjaw badja kun jaoy ato nahimo sa lungsod".
Salamat karadjaw... sa mga nag-text, nag-email, nag-comment, nagpadaya nan contributions sanan mass cards, nagpahimo nan flowers, sa Pidjanga Blog readers, sa Bisaya Blog readers, sa Multiply Journal readers, fellow bloggers, sa ako ka-opisina sa United Nations.
Salamat Fr. Rey Maldo, and the entire parish, for administering a very solemn funeral Mass for Dad.
As my brother Concon shared during the Homily, Daddy's only reminder to him is to "always thank everyone and be grateful of deeds others has done to you". I was also touched when he challenged everyone who was caring for the sick... "do not surrender, tabang lamang bisan ikaw mismo tabangunon, kay an grasya sa Ginoo jaon dimo". Unlike me and my other brother who were most of the time in Manila, because he served Daddy in his bedside, he had the blessing of knowing more our Daddy, of becoming Daddy's very close friend... a blessing and a grace shared by no one else.
Salamat sa Mainit Police Force (PNP) for honoring Daddy with 21 gun salute and for honoring him with the Philippine Flag.
For those who does not know Daddy, here's his short biography:
Daddy was the youngest of the seven children of Bitoy Libarnes Mosende and Tisay Mongado Simchico. He was born on the Feast of St. Francis Xavier on 3 December 1942 during the Japanese Occupation. His great grandfather, Don Saturnino Libarnes Mosende, was a cabeza or teniente of the Pueblo de Mainit in 1850s. Don Saturnino must have been part of the founding of the Town of Placer in mid-1800s together with Capitan Felipe Custodio and Capitan Luis Patino. His Grandfather, Don Capitan Hilario "Ayong" Villamon Mosende (he was named after him), was teniente del barrio of Barrio of Mainit in late 1800s (when Mainit bacame a barrio of Placer under the American Occupation). His father, Vedasto "Bitoy" Libarnes Mosende, was the first Vice President (Vice Mayor of Mainit). Together with Ceferino Lozada and Antonio Mozar (First Mayor), Bitoy spearheaded the founding of the Municipality of Mainit whose Executive Order (290) was successfully signed by Governor General Dwight Davies on 27 December 1930.
He graduated Valedictorian at Mainit Elementary School in 1954. Since most of his siblings studied in Surigao City, he took up his high school at San Nicolas College (now St. Paul University) and graduated Salutatorian in 1959. He studied Civil Engineering at the Mapua Institute of Technology in Intramuros, Manila, where he showed academic excellence and has been consistently elected representative to the Student Body Organization in every year level.
He married Victoria Alvarez Yap in 1973 where he had 3 children: Peter Zimmbodilion (married to Ma. Teresa Palabrica), Paul Kircheultz, and John Karachi.
He had been a public servant and political leader of Surigao del Norte from the 1970s to late 1990s. He became mayor of Mainit after the EDSA revolution of 1986 during the administration of President Cory Aquino. He help found a local NGO, the Mainit Concerned Citizens for Development (MCCD).
But as I have said... Dad's life can be summarized into just two lines "Love of God and Love of Country".
He showed us how to pray, and he lead people to pray. He taught us that one must love God above all. His aura of prayer has even brought people from all over Mindanao to believe that he was the new Pabling Quino, the new Ruben Ecleo, or even the new Jose Rizal. But he refused and told his fanatic followers to believe in Jesus Christ, our Lord and Redeemer, now and forever. As young as 3 years old, I learned my first prayers from him. All of my cousins, learned their prayers from him.
He made serving Mainit as his personal mission. He joined politics to realize his dream to lead and to serve. He joined and lived with the poor, with the mamanwas (indigenous people), the drunkards, the fisherfolks, the farmers, to understand them and to help them. On countless occasions, he provided legal help to those who had no access to justice. He was an icon of strength for the Mainitnons who were marginalized.
Thank you Dad for showing us Love of God and Love of Country...
With those, this Pidjanga Blog was born, and I dedicate this to you.
Farewell Mayor... farewell Dad. See you!
Apr 20, 2008
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