Arroyo’s three-vehicle convoy arrived on the outskirts of this town as the morning sun rises with people lining the streets to catch a glimpse of her while others waited on street corners with banners welcoming her.
A throng of people waited at the San Agustin parish church where the former president took time to shake their hands on her way to hear a Thanksgiving Mass.
“Matula kung matula, dakal a salamat. Masaya ku (I’m very happy. Thank you very much. I’m so delighted),” Arroyo said before shaking the hands of her cabalens as she made her way to the church.
Leading the welcomers were Gov. Lilia “Nanay Baby” Pineda and her husband, businessman Rodolfo “Bong” Pineda.
Vice Gov. Dennis “Delta” Pineda, his wife, former Sta. Rita mayor Yolly Pineda and Mayor Mylene Pineda-Cayabyab were also on hand to welcome Arroyo and her family.
Local executives in the province were also present packing the church in the Thanksgiving Mass offi ciated by several priests led by Archbishop Emeritus Paciano “Apu Cetu” B. Aniceto.
During his homily, Aniceto spoke on the faith of Arroyo whom he said helped her endure her detention before she was finally acquitted by the Supreme Court. He said her suffering in detention was part of her evangelization.
Before the fi nal blessing, Arroyo was given an opportunity to speak.
“Limang banwa kung meparusang alang sala at buri da sana ing ali ku maka pag serbisyu keng distritu tamu oneng salamat naman keng saup yu, keng suporta yu lagi pepaburen yu naman a mag serbisyu ku kekayu. Salamat (Five years I was punished even if I did no wrong and they wanted me not to serve our district but thanks to your help and support, you allowed me to serve you. Thank you),” Arroyo said.
“Samantalang miyayaliwang pamag perwisyu ing gewa da kanaku at kekayu antimo ing bawal gagamit cellphone, o internet, kaya kailangan magbisita kayu kanaku kasi eta malyaring mag teleponu tamu at nung magbisita kayu kailangan yu pang manyawad permiso manibat Crame kailangan dumalan kayu king inspection at aku naman salamat ke suporta da di Apu Ceto at pag-Misa naku king kilub ning suite ku uling bawal mag Misa keng bisitas ning ospital (While I suff ered diff erent kinds of inconvenience like it’s prohibited to use a cellphone or internet that is why you have to visit me personally and if you want to visit, you must fi rst seek permission from Camp Crame and then you have to pass through inspection and on my part I thank you for all your support and Apu Ceto had to say Holy Mass in my suite because he is not allowed to say Mass in the hospital chapel),” she said.
She said she was allowed to exercise only an hour each day and even the time for her family was limited.
The former president lamented that even if she was already in detention, the former administration kept on lambasting her even until the end.
“At ala kung paralan na makibat ku uling makakulung ku. Oneng sabi ng Apu Cetu ing eku pamakibat yapin ing sakripisyu ku bang kanita makapisanmetung ku king Calvary ning Guinu Tamung Hesu Kristo (And I have no way of responding to the accusations against me. But like what Apu Ceto said my silence is my sacrifi ce to be one in joining the Calvary of our Lord Jesus Christ),” Arroyo said as she enjoined all to stop persecuting their enemies and stop using the resources of government against political enemies and hopes that she will be the last victim of the wrong system.
“Yari na ita ing Kalbaryu tamu salamat ngeni ating bayung aldo, magobra naka tamu, abe-abe tamu (Our Calvary is over, thank you and now it’s a new day and it is time to work hand-in-hand together),” she said as she also thanked the governor and her family for their support.
"Salamat pasibayu Nanay Baby keng suporta mu kaku. Salamat keng pamilya mu atsu kayu palagi keng gulut ku at ngeni kayabe yuku pasibayu king obra tamu para keng panyulung ning kekatamung probinsya (Thank you once again Nanay Baby for your support. Thank you to your family who are always behind me and now we are together to work for the progress of our province),” she said.
