Iggy Arroyo's children in mourning but 'doing well'

By CARMELA G. LAPEÑA, GMA News

Published March 5, 2012 9:40am

Saying the late Rep. Ignacio "Iggy" Arroyo Jr. taught them to overcome any obstacles, his daughters said they are holding up well despite the controversial issues surrounding their father's wake.

In an interview on 24 Oras on March 4, daughter Bernardina "Dina" Arroyo-Tantoco said: "This was the one thing in life I thought I wouldn't be able to handle, yung pagkamatay ng tatay ko." "I guess he taught me well and he raised me well. Kasi I'm holding up well and so is my sister," she said, referring to her older sister Bianca Arroyo. One of Dina's children was named Ignacio after the congressman. "He was very kind and he was a great gentleman, he was so loving and gentle," Bianca said. Dina and Bianca are Iggy's daughters from his first wife, Marilyn Jacinto. Iggy has another daughter, Alelu, with his second wife, Alicia "Aleli" Morales-Arroyo. When Iggy died, he was living with his partner Grace Ibuna with whom he had no children. Iggy, younger brother of former First Gentleman Jose Miguel "Mike" Arroyo, died on January 26 in London due to a lingering liver ailment.

Iggy's body arrived from London on February 29. His remains were brought to their ancestral residence at 14 Badjao Street, La Vista, where the wake was held from March 1 to March 2.

On March 3, after the celebration of a necrological Mass, Iggy’s body was transferred to 17 Badjao Street, La Vista, where his second wife lives. The wake there was held until March 4.

On March 5, Iggy's remains were brought to the House of Representatives.

From March 5 to 7, Iggy’s remains will be in Bacolod City.

On March 8, the body will be returned to Manila and brought once again to the Arroyo’s ancestral home.

The burial will be on March 9, beside the grave of the congressman’s mother at the Manila North Cemetery.

Not taking sides

Meanwhile, Iggy's daughters said they are not taking sides in the conflict between Iggy's legal wife Aleli Arroyo and his partner Grace Ibuna. The daughters said they only followed their father's wishes to have the wake in their ancestral house. A wake was also held at Aleli's house, for the sake of their other sister Alelu.

"Kasi kapatid namin din naman yun and mahal talaga siya ng tatay namin," Dina said.

"She attended the wakes at our ancestral home, which is also naman rin her ancestral home. She also grew up there. We love her very much and we want her to be there," Dina added. - VVP, GMA News

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