That is how Aida Marañon yesterday described Gov. Joseph Marañon, her husband of 48 years, who passed away Thursday night.

“My husband was a simple and loving man, who deeply cared about helping others and did not want much fanfare for himself.”

“We were hoping that he would last until his birthday on March 19,” Aida said.

“But Joseph told me he wanted to go, he was very tired,” she said, pointing out that the governor had deep faith in the Lord and was prepared to die.

He was prepared to go since August last year, said Aida, who nursed him through his long battle with illness brought about by a growth in his liver that was aggravated by acquired community pneumonia in May.

The governor did not want any extra ordinary measures taken to prolong his life anymore. Someone suggested that he undergo stem cell treatment but he said if he had to pay $75,000 he would much rather leave the money for me, she said.

The governor was a practical man up to the end, she said.

He had made preparations for his family and put their business in order, and was happy with the way Vice Gov. Isidro Zayco was running the province in his absence, Aida said.

“He was also a very good husband, a good provider, was kind and very loving. I have so many fond memories of him in the last months of his life,” she said

When he was sick, he worried about my staying up late to take care of him, and even in his sickest moments he would remind me to give the crew on the ambulance snacks.

When we ate breakfast he would put all the meaty parts of the fish on my plate and keep the bones for himself, and every morning he took a sip from my coffee, she said.

And every time he went to the office, he consulted me on whether his shirt matched his pants, Aida said.

When I sat in his favorite chair to watch TV, he would always get small pillow to put under my elbow, she also said.

When we were in Hong Kong, an advertisement appeared on television at 7 p.m. about a CD containing 1,000 love songs, he did not stop until he got one bought for me before the end of the day, she said.

And every time I went to Manila he made sure I had “balon” to bring three days before, that somebody accompanied me and that there would be someone to fetch me from the airport, she said.

“He did little things that meant a lot to me,” she said.

And he spoke with each of our children and gave them work to prepare them for when he was gone, he thought of everything before he died, she said.

He also left me in the care of our children – Sagay Councilor Joseph Gerard Marañon, Lourdes Yupangco and Therese Ledesma.

Aida said her husband always remembered her birthday, “I teased him that with him gone no one would remember me on my birthday in April anymore.”

When I got dizzy, like when I was brought to the emergency room three times, I seemed to get well right away just by seeing him there because I felt secure, she said.

“I told him he was my wind beneath my wings,” she said.

Aida was apparently referring to the 1988 hit, “Wind Beneath My Wings,” where in the chorus Bette Midler sings “Did you ever know that you’re my hero, and everything I would like to be? I can fly higher than an eagle, ’cause you are the wind beneath my wings.”

We will surely miss him, along with all the rest of the people whose lives he has touched, she said.

His dream was that Negros Occidental would prosper even more under Isidro Zayco, Aida said.

My husband said he was blessed to have chosen Zayco as his runningmate and knew he was leaving the province in safe hands, she added.

“I wish the people in the Capitol will give Zayco the same support they gave my husband,” she said.

Sagay Councilor Joseph Gerard Marañon, said the governor was “a simple man, a good father and a good friend”.*CPGomez

Board Member Emilio Yulo III took his oath as vice governor before Muñez at 10 a.m.

Zayco said he will retain Jose Ma. Valencia as chief of staff and Provincial Legal Officer, Enrique Pinongan as Provincial Administrator, and the rest of the governor’s staff.

“I will retain the governor’s entire staff, the status quo will remain,” he said.

The Negros Sangguniang Panlungsod held a special session yesterday afternoon and passed a resolution expressing the condolences of the people of Negros Occidental to the family of the governor. The SP also approved the appointment of Valencia and Pinongan to their posts under the new governor, Yulo said.

Since their positions were co-terminus with Gov. Marañon, their re-appointments under Zayco needed to be concurred by the SP to prevent a hiatus in the running of the provincial government, Yulo explained.

Zayco said Marañon was a low key and simple man who achieved a lot for Negros Occidental.

Even from his sickbed he continued to give instructions on what to do about ongoing projects, Zayco said.

Yulo said “We have great shoes to fill, we know what our governor has done in the last seven years.”

“We know that a huge responsibility is on our shoulders, the legacy of the governor will be our guiding light, particularly the programs the governor instructed us to continue. We hope we can call on the support of each and every Negrense,” Yulo said.

The vacancy in the provincial board with Yulo’s moving up to vice governor will have to be filled with an appointee from the Kabalikat ng Malayang Pilipino, Zayco said. This is because Yulo is a member of KAMPI, he explained.

Marañon passed away 6:40 p.m. Thursday after he succumbed to cardio pulmonary arrest at his residence at Santa Clara Subdivision in Bacolod City.

Zayco directed all mayors to fly the Philippine flags at half-mast in their towns and cities starting yesterday until the day of Marañon’s interment.

Former Gov. Daniel Lacson Jr. said “Gov. Joseph delivered very well on his promise and has raised the bar of performance not only in Negros Occidental, but for the rest of the country.  He was everybody’s friend and loyal ally. He is reaping his reward now in Heaven. We will all miss him.”

Former Gov. Rafael Coscolluela said “319 was the quintessential politician of the old school. Ma-alwan, great friend but formidable foe, seasoned but sensitive, and generous to a fault. He will be sorely missed. My sincere condolences to his bereaved family.”

Former Rep. Carlos Cojuangco (Neg. Occ., 4th District) said Marañon “had a very colorful life and a long and distinguished political career, saving the best for last by leading us in the last seven years, truly uniting the province politically.”

“In the end, I know he was ready to meet his creator as he humbly accepted, through his illness,  the Lord as his Savior. Isn’t that a great way to go? By the grace of God, he led ‘the good fight and finished the race.’ God bless you, 3-1-9!” Cojuangco said.

Meanwhile, Acting Bacolod Mayor Jude Thaddeus Sayson issued Executive Order No. 6, Series of 2008, giving honor and recognition to Marañon for his significant contributions to Bacolod City and ordering the flying of the flag at a half-mast in mourning of his death.

The resolution said Marañon was an institution and a well-loved and respected political and civic figure in Bacolod City during his tenure as governor of Negros Occidental from year 2001 to 2008. 

His contributions to the betterment of Bacolod and Negros Occidental will forever be etched in our minds, the resolution said.*CPG

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