INTERMENT RITES FOR ROMAN A. DE LA CRUZ SET ON SEPT. 14 IN AKLAN

Interment of Roman A. de la Cruz, a noted Visayan writer, poet, book author and publisher, is set on Sept. 14 in Kalibo, Aklan. He died Monday morning in Iloilo City.

De la Cruz, whose name has been closely associated in the league of a reputable writers Leon Ma. Guerrero, Salvador P. Lopez, Conrado Rigor, Amante Bigornia, Lyd Arguilla and Manuel E. Buenafe, will be buried at the Medalla Milagrosa Cemetery in his hometown of Kalibo, after a necrological ceremony organized by the Publishers Association of the Philippines, Inc. (PAPI) and the Aklan Press Club, Inc.

As a short story writer, De la Cruz has been commended by literary giants NVM Gonzales and Jose Garcia Villa. He started writing at age 17 and has produced (9) nine books on literary pieces, short stories, poems, articles and essays.

For the last 35 years, De la Cruz was publisher, editor and columnist of the Aklan Reporter, a regional newsweekly.

In 2005, De la Cruz was conferred by PAPI an award of recognition for his outstanding contribution to country’s community journalism and literature.

The Aklan provincial government, led by Gov. Lito Marquez through its Sangguniang Panlalawigan, presided by Vice Gov. Bellie V. Calizo recently passed a resolution mourning the passing of Roman A. de la Cruz whom it considered as an outstanding citizen.

For its part, the municipal government of Kalibo, whom De la Cruz served as member of the Sangguniang Bayan (SB) for 16 years, also passed a resolution expressing its condolences.