3 E's for Emy 
| 
|
I was driving along EDSA towards Makati when suddenly I heard from my car radio that Emy passed away.
It was 3pm, March 15 and the afternoon heat was scorching and suddenly I was cold, stunned and sad. I had to momentarily stop along the side of EDSA and call Pat Sto Tomas for confirmation. And she did say yes between sobs that indeed Emy left us.
Emy succumbed to cardiac arrest at around 2pm that day after being treated at the NKTI for metabolic acidosis secondary to kidney failure. Apparently, her transplanted kidney which was given to her by her sister 5 years ago stopped working already.
I immediately informed my Galing Pook board members through text. Some texted/emailed back:
• Che Che Lazaro: Oh my God!
• Austere Panadero: Ha? What happened?
• Bebet Gozun: It is a very sad news.
• Vic Ramos: What a waste!
• Ciel Habito: Yes, I heard. She is a great loss.
• Lito Coscolluela: Why do the good ones die earlier than the bad guys?
Truly, Emy touched all of us and the whole nation.
I just hope that we will forever remember Emy as one of the epitome and personification of the 3 E’s of Public Service:
1. Exceedingly excellent: Doing her job better than others; with concrete results done through transparent and accountable processes
2. Extraordinarily ordinary: What you see is what you get; no put on; no make ups; just Emy the public servant, the professor, the daughter and sister of ordinary people from poor Bicol
3. Eminently simple: What is most simple is most beautiful! Her simplicity in life is her greatness.
Emy will be a great loss to the Galing Pook project. But she will remain an inspiration to all of us waging the battle for good governance. 
Dok Eddie
March 22, 2010
 |
