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Mayor Simando |
Congressman Arnulfo Fuentebella paid a glowing tribute to former Mayor Edmundo Laurel Simando during the necrological services for the three-term town executive Saturday evening, August 18. But hundreds of friends and supporters from far-flung Garchitorena obviously showed a more touching gesture of affection for him when they braved the stormy weather and took the boat from Garchitorena to Tamban, Tinambac over rough seas enroute to Naga City or boarded open trucks over rugged mountain road just to be able to pay their last respects to the departed leader.Simando, only 58, died Sunday August 12, 2007 at St. Luke Hospital in Quezon City after a brief illness and was interred Sunday, August 19 at the Sto. Niño Memorial Park following a Mass at the Basilica Minore.
Fuentebella said he had very high regard for Mayor Simando because he never complained even when he was not able to grant certain requests, obviously unlike other town officials who continue to pester him.
The solon also emphasized that it was during Simando’s tenure as chairman of the Partido Development Administration (PDA) that Garchitorena was fully energized and the water system became operational.
A lawyer, Mayor Simando passed the bar examination in 1981, a year after elder brother Amador placed 12th in the bar examination. He had worked at the then Provincial Development Staff of the late Gov. Felix Fuentebella before passing the bar after which he practiced his law profession until he was drafted to run for mayor first in 1995.
He was married to Mila Froyalde with whom he has five sons: Edmundo, Jr., 33, the eldest who ran for Mayor last May but lost; Andrew, Carlo Magno, Klause and Jean Paul, the youngest who is 23 years old.
Mayor Simando is also survived by sisters Lolita Simando Palomar, Corazon Simando Valencia, Florita Simando Reyes, Leah Simando Barcinas and Leda Simando San Luis.
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The late Mayor Edmundo Simando Sr. (center) was a family friend of PENINSULA MONITOR editor and Mrs. Dominador Alarkon, Jr. shown with him in photo at the lawn of the Garchitorena town hall in 2004. |
