VIPs, ordinary people bid Vidal goodbye
Cebu’s “Day of Mourning” drew a crowd of about 55,000 people including several politicians who attended the funeral Mass and burial of Cardinal Ricardo Vidal yesterday at Cebu Metropolitan Cathedral.
Meanwhile, Senator Cynthia Villar supports the call pushing for the sainthood of Vidal.
Some of the public officials spotted were Presidential Assistant for the Visayas Michael Lloyd Dino, Representative Gwen Garcia, Representative Raul del Mar, former Metropolitan Manila Development Authority Francis Tolentino, and former chief justice Hilario Davide Jr.
Other local politicians who attended the Mass and burial of Vidal were Talisay City Eduardo Gullas, Cebu City Vice Mayor Edgardo Labella, former mayor Michael Rama, and Cebu City Councilors Jocelyn Pesquera, Joel Garganera, Jerry Guardo, Eugenio Gabuya, Raymond Alvin Garcia, Margarita Osmeña, David Tumulak, Phillip Zafra, among others.
“As stated by Cardinal Luis Tagle, we share in celebrating the completion of the life of Cardinal Vidal,” Pesquera said.
Rep. Garcia said she finds comfort during her regular visit of Vidal when she was the governor of Cebu and he was the Archbishop of Cebu.
“His calm wisdom and his innate gentleness and kindness always somehow made my burden lighter because he was a guiding light and inspiration to me when I was a governor,” she said.
She said Vidal has been an “inspiring, gentle person” who gave her strength and guidance.
Zafra, for his part, said he felt the love of the people for Vidal after seeing throngs of people who attended the funeral.
“He is really an icon of peace and a source of inspiration of our Christian faith. It’s a feeling of mixed emotions but what is certain is the love and respect that each one of us has for him,” he said.
Councilor Osmeña said attending the funeral Mass is one way of thanking Vidal for all he has done for Cebu.
Councilor Garcia, who sponsored a resolution declaring October 26 as a day of mourning, said the outpouring of people attending the Mass and burial only shows how many lives Vidal has touched.
“A day of mourning means a day to honor and pay our respects to the late Cardinal Vidal who has been instrumental in unifying the people of Cebu,” he said.
Garganera, for his part, said he has absorbed the message of Cardinal Tagle who shared “My Dear” memories with Vidal.
Tumulak, for his part, said he is happy to serve during the “peaceful” wake and interment of Vidal.
Villar said Vidal has done so much not only for Cebu, but the whole country.
"Mahal natin yan. He has done so much for us. Although mahaba ang proseso nang sainthood. Support ako diyan. For a cardinal, he is very friendly at hindi ka matatakot kasi ang bait-bait at lagi lang siyang nakatawa," said Villar in an ambush interview last night.
Villar recalled that every time Vidal comes to Manila, she is always invited where the cardinal is staying.
She was in Cebu last night as guest speaker of the League of Municipalities of the Philippines Mindanao Island Cluster Conference 2017 with a theme, "Federalismo para sa Pagbabago."