Public viewing of Robredo begins Friday

MANILA, Philippines – The late Interior Secretary Jesse Robredo’s family, friends, and other supporters in Manila will have a chance to visit his wake in the next two days, when his remains are brought to Malacañang from Naga City.

Based on Malacañang’s latest bulletin on Robredo’s state funeral, the public viewing is scheduled 7 to 11 pm on Friday, August 24, and 8 am to 5 pm on Saturday, August 25. This will be held in Malacañang’s Kalayaan Hall.

Kalayaan Hall, Malacañang’s oldest extant section, “is most accessible to the public” because it is located amid sprawling grounds, the Palace said. 

Built in the American era, it was initially named Maharlika Hall then was renamed by the incumbent President’s mother, former President Corazon Aquino, to Kalayaan Hall.

The Palace said the building’s name, which commemorates democracy after the People Power Revolution, befits Robredo. “As part of the generation inspired to enter public service by the Edsa People Power Revolution, it is only fitting that the late secretary lie in state in Kalayaan Hall.”

On Friday, Robredo’s remains will be coming from Naga City, the city he once led as mayor. 

At the Naga airport in Pili, Camarines Sur, the Philippine National Police (PNP) will render departure honors for Robredo’s remains 9 am. His body is expected to arrive at the Villamor Airbase, Pasay City at around 10:30 am, and will receive arrival honors from the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP).

The Philippine Air Force commanding general will serve as military host.

The following will serve as the 6 honorary pallbearers, whose traditional role is either to help in carrying the coffin or to escort it: 

• Budget Secretary Florencio “Butch” Abad

• Transportation Secretary Manuel “Mar” Roxas II

• Rep Jun Abaya (Liberal Party)

• Harvey Keh (Kaya Natin Movement)

• Alice Murphy (urban poor groups)

• Joan dela Cruz (Department of the Interior and Local Government)

His body will be transported from Villamor to Malacañang from 10:30 to 11 am after departure honors from the AFP. The Presidential Security Group (PSG) and the 250th Presidential Airlift Wing will escort his remains, and the PSG will do the arrival honors when Robredo’s remains arrive in Malacañang

The route for bringing Robredo’s body to Malacañang is as follows: Villamor Airbase – NAIA Road – Roxas Boulevard – Padre Burgos Street – Finance Road – Ayala Boulevard – Ayala Bridge – Solano Street – Malacañang. (See map below.)

At 11 am, President Benigno Aquino III will lead a ceremony for Robredo in Malacañang. The 8 casket bearers and 6 honorary pallbearers will bring Robredo’s casket down the hearse, which will be given a 19-gun salute.

Robredo’s casket will be brought to Kalayaan Hall, where Robredo’s remains will lie in state until Sunday morning, August 26.

Memorial services

On Friday, various memorial services will take place in Malacañang before the public viewing:

• 1 to 3 pm – memorial service sponsored by the DILG, attached agencies, and local government leagues

• 3:15 to 4:15 pm – memorial service sponsored by urban poor groups

• 4:30 to 5:30 pm – memorial service sponsored by the Kaya Natin movement

A Mass will be celebrated in Malacañang from 6 to 7 pm, before the public viewing from 7 to 11 p.m. on Friday. 

On Saturday, August 25, the public viewing of his remains will take place from 8 am to 5 pm. A public Mass for Robredo will be celebrated from 6 to 7 pm.

Two memorial services will happen after the public Mass: 

• 7 to 8 pm – memorial service sponsored by the Liberal Party

• 8:15 to 10 pm – memorial service sponsored by Robredo’s fellow Cabinet members

On Sunday, August 26, Robredo’s body will be returned to Naga City, where his family has chosen to bury him instead of the proposed Libingan ng mga Bayani.

His coffin will leave Malacañang at around 6 am on Sunday. It will be brought to Villamor after departure honors from the PSG, which will include a 19-gun salute. At Villamor, separate departure honors will take place for Robredo.

The whole departure ceremony will take place from 6 to 7 am.

Robredo’s body will be brought to the Naga airport, then to the Naga City Hall on Sunday morning.

These ceremonies form part of Robredo’s state funeral. This is the highest kind of funeral the government can give its citizens – “the kind that is given to heroes,” said Communications Undersecretary Manolo Quezon.

The President has declared August 21, when Robredo’s body was found, until his burial day as National Days of Mourning. – Rappler.com