By Anthony Giron
IMUS CITY, Cavite - Officials and residents in Cavite province grieved and expressed sadness over the demise of former Senator Ramon Revilla Sr. and the memories he left as a public servant, movie actor, loving father and friend.
Revilla Sr., fondly called “Don Ramon” by his peers and colleagues, and “tatay” or daddy by his children and grandchildren, passed away on Friday, June 26, at the age of 93.
“The entire province grieves for the loss of a national icon. His contributions to the fabric of Philippine culture were immense,” Governor Juanito Victor “Jonvic” Remulla Jr. said in a text message to the press after news broke out about Revilla Sr.’s passing.
Other local officials offered sympathies to the Revilla family, among them Sixth District (General Trias) Board Member Kerby Javier Salazar and Silang, Cavite, Mayor Socorro Rosario “Corie” F. Poblete.
“Salamat at paalam po sa inyo, kagalang-galang naming dating senador, Ramon Revilla, Sr. Lubos po akong nakikidalamhati sa inyong pagpanaw. Nakikiramay po ako sa inyong mga naiwang mahal sa buhay. Praying for the eternal repose of your soul,” Salazar said in a message posted on his Facebook page on Friday.
“Ang amin pong taos pusong pakikiramay sa pamilya ng yumaong dating Senador Ramon Revilla Sr.. Dalangin namin ang katatagan ng pamilya Revilla at sa naulila nito,” Poblete said in her post message.
The Cavite Provincial Capitol and Sangguniang Panlalawigan (Provincial Board) staff officers and employees also condoled with Vice Governor Ramon Jolo Revilla III, his father Senator Ramon “Bong” Revilla Jr., a former governor of the province; his mother, Bacoor Mayor Lani Mercado-Revilla, 2nd District (Bacoor) Representative Strike B. Revilla and the other members of the family over the Revilla patriarch’s demise.
Residents also expressed sadness and offered prayers for the late senator and his family.
“He (Ramon Sr.) has passed away but his memories will be with us, in our hearts,” said Evelyn Dolatre-Calderon, a housewife and long-time resident of Imus City and fan of the elder and younger Revillas.
The Revilla patriarch was born on March 8, 1927 in Imus.
Ramon Sr., whose real name is Jose Acuña Bautista Sr., was known as "Hari ng mga Agimat" (Amulet King) for his role in movies as a neighborhood “super-hero” in Cavite and elsewhere who thwarts evil and bad individuals with the power of his “anting-anting” (amulet or charm). He starred and partnered with other actors and actresses in some 100 romance, action and fantasy movies from 1950s to 2005.
Revilla Sr. entered politics in 1992 after winning a Senate seat. His second term as senator ended in 2004. He was known as the “Father of the Public Works Act.”
The senator suffered a stroke and underwent angioplasty in 2008.
Senator Revilla Jr. announced the passing of the late senator at 5:20 p.m. Friday (June 26) due to heart failure, nearly two months after he was rushed to the hospital due to difficulty in breathing.
The wake of the late senator will be held at the Revilla compound on Aguinaldo Highway in Bacoor starting 2 p.m. Saturday (June 27).
The family requests the public to allow them and close friends to grieve privately until further notice. Flowers and Mass cards will be received starting 12 p.m. Saturday" the family said in a statement.