Last Monday, Batan folks mourned as many of them boarded their vehicles and waited for the arrival of the remains of the 26-year-old Corporal Jonard Alianza.
Alianza, a member of the Philippine Marines, was among those 14 killed and mutilated by the suspected Moro Islamic Liberation Front in Basilan.
After Alianza’s body was flown over to the Iloilo Airport via the C-130 military plane, it was fetched by a 6-by-6 vehicle of the 12th Infantry Batallion, Philippine Army based in Camp Libas, Banga Aklan.
The fallen marine was welcomed by a motorcade by a group of residents as he was nearing his hometown.
This July 18, thousands of residents are expected to troop the Kalibo Airport to wait for the remains of another local hero 63-year-old Herodutos Ramos, a former mayor of the town, who had ruled for three consecutive terms.
Ramos died in Manila Doctors Hospital on July 13 at 7 pm, due to a lingering illness.
Ramos is considered as a local hero as he was instrumental to the significant change on the lives of the residents when he assumed his post in 1998. Batan is considered the seafood capital of Aklan.
"He paved way for economic development for providing basic infrastructures such as farm to market roads, and prioritized health, and peace and order," said a town resident who requested anonymity.
Despite failing to graduate in school because of poverty, Ramos became successful in plastic manufacturing business in Metro Manila.
To pay respect for the death of the two heroes, half-mast flags are already ordered by the Batan municipal government in all schools and government institutions.
Alianza and Ramos are expected to be buried on July 21, 2007.
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