By Perla Lena/ Philippine News Agency
ILOILO CITY – The Philippine flag in edifices, hospitals, and facilities owned by the Iloilo provincial government now flies at half-mast in mourning for the passing of Guimbal Mayor Oscar “Oca” Garin Sr. on Sunday (Sept. 26).
Iloilo Governor Arthur Defensor Jr. signed Executive Order No. 44 on Monday (Sept. 27) ordering the half-mast for a period of seven days.
“Honorable Oscar G. Garin has introduced a number of legislations, programs and initiatives during his public service years that made a significant impact in the lives of the people in the province of Iloilo, particularly in the first district,” the order said.
The 80-year old patriarch, aside from serving as Mayor of Guimbal, was representative of the first district of Iloilo from 1987 to 1998 and 2001-2004.
He was once the administrator of the Philippine Coconut Authority.
Oca died at 3:33 p.m. on Sunday after being confined in a hospital for 12 days upon showing symptoms and testing positive for the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19).
A mass to celebrate his life was held at their residence in Guimbal, Iloilo 8 p.m. on the same day that was followed by a caravan going to the city where he was cremated at around 11 p.m.
His son and namesake Oscar “Richard” Garin Jr., who spoke after the virtual mass, said that his father, married to incumbent San Joaquin Mayor Ninfa Serag-Garin, was a family man and a good father.
He added that the mayor has done a lot and left achievements that will serve as his legacy.
“It doesn’t matter how long you live. The most important of all is how you live and you touched lives of other people,” he said.
His father’s guiding principle “Do not only repay kindness, pass it on” will always linger as they vowed to continue his legacy along with his sisters Jennifer, Sharon Karen, and Christine.
Sharon, currently representative of the AAMBIS OWA party-list, said that their father is one of a kind. He can even talk for two hours with his listeners not getting bored.
“He is an institution that can never be replaced,” she said.
Jennifer, currently Guimbal vice-mayor, said they always strive to do their best to impress him because their father has done so much.
“We want to achieve the best because we want to please him. Deep inside I know he is very proud of his children,” she said.
His youngest daughter Christine is now vice-governor of the province of Iloilo.
Incumbent Iloilo First District Representative and former health secretary Janette Loreto-Garin is his daughter-in-law, being married to Richard who also occupied various elective posts.
Expression of sympathies and condolences poured in after his death was announced.
The Department of Interior and Local Government-Western Visayas, in its Facebook post, said they are “forever grateful for his partnership, and support to the programs, projects and activities of the department”.
Iloilo City Mayor Jerry P. Treñas said “Oca had been a leader in the province and brought improvement to his constituents.”
The family is yet to announce the details of his interment. (PNA) – bny
