INC Executive Minister Eraño 'Ka Erdy' Manalo laid to rest

Eraño “Ka Erdy" Manalo, the Executive Minister of Iglesia ni Cristo, was laid to rest Monday noon at the Tabernacle at the religious group’s Central Complex in Quezon City. Manalo passed away last August 31 at the age of 84. President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo arrived earlier in the day to attend Manalo’s funeral, according to GMA’s Flash Report. Among those who paid their last respects to Manalo on Monday included Vice President Noli de Castro, President Joseph Estrada, his wife former Sen. Luisa “Loi" Ejercito, their son Sen. Jose “Jinggoy" Estrada, former First Lady Imelda Marcos and her son Ilocos Norte Rep. Ferdinand “Bongbong" Marcos Jr., and Senators Loren Legarda, Ramon “Bong" Revilla Jr., Manuel Roxas II, and Miguel Zubiri. Last night, among those who visited the wake were Estrada and First Gentleman Jose Miguel Arroyo.

Cabinet members including Agriculture Secretary Arthur Yap and Finance Secretary Margarito Teves also attended the burial rites, which was aired live over the INC-owned television network Net 25. On Monday morning, Manalo’s remains were brought to the INC’s Sanctuario for final viewing by church members. The Sanctuario is located beneath the INC Central Temple. At about 11:30 a.m. the casket was taken to the nearby Tabernacle. Manalo’s flower-decked white tomb lay at the center of the cavernous Tabernacle. It will be his temporary burial site while a mausoleum is being constructed beside the monument of his father, INC founder Felix Manalo. Before the interment, Manalo’s casket was draped with an Iglesia ni Cristo flag and carried by eight INC ministers clad in barong tagalog and wearing black armbands. After the INC flag was folded, Manalo’s casket was covered with the Philippine flag and opened for the last time for final viewing by his family. The flag was removed and folded by seven honor guards before the casket was placed in the tomb. Outside the temple, honor guards gave a gun salute while the funeral was taking place. Loud cries rose from the congregation while Manalo’s casket was being placed inside the tomb shortly after 12 noon. Pall of gloom Two projection screens were mounted outside the INC Central Complex along Commonwealth Avenue, where thousands of INC members were gathered, so that those who could not enter the premises could view the funeral services. A pall of gloom hung in the air as the members braved the rains and sobbed while viewing the solemn rites. Anthony delas Alas, a member of INC Sto. Tomas, Batangas Local went to the Central Temple last night with his family and other members of his community. “Pumunta kami rito para maki-luksa. Kilala ko si Ka Erdy na mabait, matulungin sa nangangailangang kapatid, magaling sa tagapamahalang pangkalahatan. Natulungan niya ako, dahil siya ang nag-akay sa mga tao para maligtas," Delas Alas said. Pauline Baddas, a Pangasinan native, had been camping outside the Central Temple since Sunday afternoon. She said her family rented a van so they could go to the Central Temple and pay their respects to Manalo. Baddas said that while she may not have any personal experience with Manalo, “Marami na siyang natulungan talaga (He has helped a lot of people)." Amid the collective sobs and random outbursts of grief, people would shout "payong! payong!" (umbrellas!) whenever those in front blocked their view of the screen when they open their umbrellas to shield them from the rain. People who could not see the projector screens listened to their radios or watched the live coverage on televisions inside their rented buses instead. Small food stalls selling fish balls, fried squid and isaw lined the road side near the UP TechnoHub. Other vendors selling finger food, ice cream and bottled water also roamed the streets. Ice cream vendor Jimmy Cuales has been in the area since Friday afternoon. He normally goes around the nearby UP Campus but decided to transfer to Commonwealth for this occasion. Earlier in the day, police said they beefed up security near the INC Central Complex in preparation for Manalo’s interment. Quezon City police director Chief Superintendent Elmo San Diego said he deployed about 500 of his men, and additional community volunteers. The National Capital Region Police Office also sent about 100 policemen. Also on Monday, the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority appealed to motorists to heed the rerouting plan for the day. The south-bound lane of Commonwealth Avenue had been closed since early morning while two lanes of the north-bound lane were also barricaded as these were being used as a parking area for private vehicles and buses. Before noon, the north-bound entrance near the Quezon City Circle was also blocked, causing heavy build-up of motorists along the Elliptical Road. Commuters were left stranded as there were no available public utility vehicles around the area. - GMANews.TV