Fr. Arnie Serrano offers the Mass at the necrological services for the late Pampanga Board Member Tars Halili at the Capitol on Thursday.
In attendance are Board Member Fritzie David-Dizon, Gov. Lilia Pineda, Vice Gov. Yeng Guiao, former Board Member Rosve Henson and Board Member Monz Laus.
Photo by Joey Pavia
CITY OF SAN FERNANDO – Thunderous applause capped the eulogies for the late 1st District Board Member Tarcicio “Tars DC” Halili during the necrological service at the Capitol on Thursday.
The applause was requested by Bulacan Board Member Michael Fermin, secretary general of the Provincial Board Members League of the Philippines (PBLMP)- Central Luzon, describing it as the “highest award” for Halili, the oldest member of the provincial board at 67 years who was primarily remembered as a “humble official” by his colleagues.
“Halili regarded public office as a public trust to promote the common good. He left a deeper sense of legacy as a faithful public servant and friend,” said the PBMLP resolution read by Fermin.
Gov. Lilia Pineda, in her eulogy, said the relatives and friends of Halili “seemed sad” but they should not be, because he “is now resting” from public service.”
“We are still serving and we do our best to serve all people 24 hours a day. But sadly, there are still hurting and harsh words (against us),” said Pineda who sometimes reports for work as early 5 a.m. and ends her work late at night almost six times a week since she became governor in 2010.
Pineda said “among the members of the board, it was Tars Halili who did not give me trouble.”
She said Halili, a three-term board member who filed his certificate of candidacy for Mabalacat City councilor last October, did not ask anything for himself but for his projects and his constituents in Mabalacat City and Magalang.
Pineda disclosed that Halili gave her lanzones from Thailand when they last met at the Capitol on Monday.
She shared the lanzones with 2nd District Board Member Olga Frances David-Dizon, who cried along with 3rd District Board Member Trina Dizon while listening to the eulogies of the governor and 1st District Board Member Cris Garbo.
Pineda said that it was the first time on October 22 that Halili “kissed and embraced me tightly” before he left to attend a caucus in Barangay Sta. Maria, Mabalacat where he suffered cardiac arrest at about 7 p.m on that same day.
Garbo said “there were times Board Member Tars Halili and I had misunderstanding but it was all part of work.”
“Sometimes Cong Tars told me I am young and too frank. But he never got angry with me during our misunderstandings. He was a kind man,” said Garbo in the dialect.
Garbo said he had prepared a speech but decided not to use it because he could vividly remember what happened last Monday. He said Halili had talked to him after the committee hearing and session which lasted for at least six hours.
Garbo said Halili had asked him to tell the governor not to forget funding for his projects, notably his scholars.
He also asked Garbo to remind Pineda to include him among the city councilors they will support for the 2013 elections.
It was when Garbo spoke about Halili’ scholars that that the second-termer board member cried hard.
Councilor Christian Halili, nephew of the late politician-real estate broker, said he had considered Halili as “my second father.” He attended the services with Vice Mayor Noel Castro.
Vice Gov. Joseller Guaio also gave an eulogy, citing the instance when Halili stuck with him when they were criticizing the poor quarry collections between 2004 to 2007 during both their first terms.
Halili’s two sisters – Conching Halili and businesswoman Nora Halili-Lao – attended the necrological service which started with a Mass officiated by Fr. Arnie Serrano.
Halili is survived by his wife Lucia and three children: Alvin Joy, Allan Jay and Aileen Joyce, who is one of the volunteer doctors of Pineda.
