Carigara bid farewell to the Municipal Vice-Mayor’s remains

by Rheanne Urmeneta

On the night of December 7, 2022, the people of Carigara were dismayed by the news of the Municipality Mayor Eduardo Ong Jr. about the passing of his father, Vice Mayor Eduardo 'Boy' Ong, who served as the Mayor of Carigara for nine consecutive years. The death of Vice Mayor Boy Ong was due to cardiac arrest, then confirmed by his wife Leny to be a peaceful death.

For his wife, Boy Ong was a perfect husband and a father to his children who would do everything to keep his children safe and provide for the needs of the family. Leny, who was still in pain from losing her husband, still managed to feel the warm sympathy of the people. Seeing the sponsor of the masses and flowers gave her relief as the pain eases due to this realization brought by the warming love of the people. The family will continue the term of the former mayor through his son, who is currently the mayor of Carigara. As a mother and someone who cares for Carigara, her support will remain alive.

According to Mayor Ed in his interview with 93.5 Brigada Tacloban posted on Facebook, "It was just a regular day, pumasok siya ng office in the morning. He went home for lunch tapos bumalik sa office. Nakauwi siya mga 3:30. Until the very last day nagtra-trabaho pa rin siya." Larraga also confirmed to Inquirer Net that Ong was rushed to a private hospital early in the day due to chest pain and died at past 8 pm due to cardiac arrest on Wednesday that day.

As someone who has served long for our Municipality, it is in deep sorrow to hear the news for former Congressman Henry Ong, who expressed his condolences on the second day of the wake. Henry acknowledged the effective service of our late vice mayor, who had improved the municipality of Carigara, during the interview.

Most of the citizens of Carigara said that the death of our beloved Vice-Mayor Eduardo "Boy" Ong was unexpected and shocking. According to Mr. Roderick Custado, the vice mayor was still healthy days before he died. Even though he wasn't feeling well that day, the LGU employees said that his remaining days were spent cheerfully.

Before the departure of the family to Manila, where the Vice-Mayor's burial is to be held, a mass was sponsored yesterday morning, at the Holy Cross Parish of Carigara, after 5 nights of his wake in the Kan Gara Gymnasium. The church was packed with people who wanted to bid goodbyes. From the SB members, LGU employees, teachers from different districts, even the grade 10 students of HCCC together with Sister M. Kathleen Laran, OSF and their advisers, and other citizens who want to bid farewell to our Vice-Mayor.