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DCCA to ask for special viewing for man’amko
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Posted on Apr 17 2009
Residents of the Aging Center will have the chance to pay their last respects to their late director, Howard Macaranas, in a special viewing after the Department of Community and Cultural Affairs approved the move in a meeting yesterday.
DCCA Secretary Cecilia T. Celes, in a gathering with nearly a hundred man’amko, disclosed that directors and administrators of the department’s eight divisions decided to voluntarily contribute to the Macaranas family by sponsoring the breakfast meal on the last day of his wake.
A liaison officer, tasked to directly coordinate the event with the family, was also named yesterday.
As of yesterday, Celes has yet to confirm if Macaranas’ remains will be buried on Tinian.
However, the decision to allow the man’amko to let them pay their last respects on Saipan was reached after considering the health of many of the man’amko.
Rose Mondala, acting director of the center, will organize the preparation of the sandwiches and soup as the man’amko’s contribution to the bereaved family. The funding for their contribution, she said, will come from the amount they got from fundraisers.
Macaranas died Thursday noon at the Commonwealth Health Center due to massive cerebral hemorrhagic stroke. He was 53.
Mondala described her late boss as very considerate and supportive.
“He will always be remembered by the man’amko…especially now that we’re starting to prepare for the Mes Manamko [Older Americans Month],” Mondala said, adding that Macaranas had made sure that all activities planned for the senior citizens will be carried out on the occasion.
Macaranas assumed the post in January 2006.
The Aging Center has about 75 congregate members—those who come to the center daily—and 120 homebound clients.
Mondala said many of them were surprised at the sudden passing of their boss.
Saipan Tribune learned that Macaranas last reported for work Thursday last week.
He was admitted to the hospital’s intensive care unit Monday morning and was confined for four days prior to his passing Thursday at 3:30pm.
