Full military honors given to legendary Eddie Garcia
SHORTLY after sunset on Sunday, veteran actor Eddie Garcia was honored with a 21-gun salute by the Phillipine Army. It was the final night of his wake at the Heritage Memorial Park in Taguig City where a Holy Mass was held and a final tribute from his family.
Before becoming an actor in what turned out to be a prolific and legendary seven-decade-long career, Garcia had served with the Philippine Scout in World War 2, deserving the military honors which began since Friday with a flag ceremony and soldiers taking turns to stand vigil throughout the wake.
According to 1-Pacman Rep. Mikee Romero, some 200 soldiers participated in the military rites.
The folded Philippine flag, which lay before the actor’s ashes was turned over by the Philippine Army to Garcia’s longtime partner, Lilibeth Romero, before a cavalry fired their rifles.
Eulogies then followed from a number of Garcia’s friends, including fellow Bicolano Senator Francis Escudero, and actors Ronaldo Valdez Jhong Hilario
From Garcia’s family, his stepsons Mikee and Nikki Romero also gave their eulogies with their mom Lilibeth, the actor’s partner for the last 33 years, being the last to speak.
Mikee shared, “Yung nangyari po kanina is like a script. I told my staff to call [and request] the Chief of Staff ng Armed Forces to do full military honors for Tito Eddie which he truly deserves and have the guards present.
“Hiningian po kami ng napakaraming papeles but in the end ang sabi ko, si Eddie Garcia yan, bigyan natin siya ng pinakamataas na parangal. Kaya po parang script, everything fell into place [after that]. Nagkaroon po ng military guards dito which elevated the respect of the Filipino nation to him.”
The partylist representative further said it was the first time the army held full military service at night with such a ceremony usually done in the morning.
“Nagbigay po ng full military honors ang Armed Forces of the Philippines not just because he is a scout or a soldier but because of [Garcia] being the best and most respected actor in the whole country.
“Usually po ang sabi ng Armed Forces hindi sila nagbibigay ng parangal ng gabi—usually sa umaga yan or before sundown. But again, [they made] an exception because he is Eddie Garcia.
“Very well directed… sa last stand ni Tito Eddie ay gusto niyang maayos at well-directed pa din ang last honor sa kanya. Sabi ng mommy ko kanina, the flag that was given to her is probably most symbolic for Tito Eddie,” he ended.
‘I never said goodbye’
Overwhelmed by the honor accorded to Garcia, Lilibeth described it as “the biggest recognition I have ever accepted for Eddie. ”
“Eddie really wanted to be a soldier [the actor said in previous interviews he wanted to reenlist in the army when the Philippine Scouts were dissolved but showbiz came along], and this recognition [symbolizes] he served the country very well.”
Garcia’s devoted partner then recalled the days following the actor’s accident and she kept vigil at the ICU of Makati Medical Center.
“Eddie met an accident early in June, and he passed on June 20. Everyday I would look at his lifeless body I’d talk to him and tell him to go and rest, but then I’d quickly change my mind [for him to hang on].”
Just before Garcia died on Thursday, she recalled how his doctors urged her to have a late lunch and leave the ICU. Before going down to one of the hospital’s restaurants, she asked their bodyguard to take her place.
“I told the bodyguard na any moment bumaba ang BP ni Eddie call me. At 4:35 p.m., I was almost done with my meal, the bodyguard called and said, ‘Pumunta na po kayo.’ Right after, another call came and it was the nurse from the ICU. She was almost crying and she said, ‘Ma’am si Sir.”
Rushing to the ICU, she immediately held Garcia’s hand and painfully told him, “You can go now.”
“You’ve been lifeless [for so many days] and I don’t think you want to look this way [anymore]. I want you to be pogi, wag mo na kami alalahanin,” she quipped to her beloved.
At 4:55 p.m. Garcia’s neurologist stepped into the and declared his death.
“To everyone of you, I never realized that Eddie is this loved, this respected and this popular. When I had him, I didn’t realize all of this because I just thought we were just a regular man and woman who loved each other like other couples.”
Holding back tears, she advised family and friends who gathered for a final farewell to the beloved actor, father, grandfather, partner and friend, “Appreciate what you have now because when you lose them, you’ll regret not being able to say a proper goodbye and say you love them [for the last time].
“I never said goodbye to him because I thought he was immortal that he wouldn’t leave us… but this is his last night.”
BY CHRISTINA ALPAD AND IZA IGLESIAS
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