Ted, Kaye appeal for family unity

A funeral mass was held for Trina Etong, the wife of ABS-CBN broadcaster Ted Failon, at the Arlington Memorial Chapel in Quezon City Wednesday morning.

A group of about 90 people, mostly close family and friends, were allowed to attend the service.

Failon and his elder daughter, Kaye, were able to address even those who attended the service outside the venue.

In his eulogy, Ted recalled how he first met his wife over twenty years ago. 

“Meron akong speech sa isang class, at napansin ko, merong isang first year college na tingin nang tingin sa kin. Binigyan ko siya kaagad kaagad ng isang rose. Pure and simple, ganoon ko po siya nakilala,” Ted said.

Family conflicts

Speaking to his relatives, Failon expressed frustration and sadness over conflicts within the family.

Failon said some of his wife's relatives had ill-feelings toward him, especially at the start of their marriage, and he appealed for family unity at a time of crisis.

"Alam ko po, simula't sapul, mayroon pong ayaw po sa akin. Kaya nga po namatay na po ang Nanay ko at ang kanyang biyenan na hindi ho naguusap. Mabigat na po ang pinagdaanan ng ating mga pamilya. Ngayon pong panahong ito, pupuwede ho bang, sabi nga ni Kaye, nang dahil po kay Trina, puwede ho bang maayos na po natin ito?" he said.

"Alam ko po, simula't sapul, sa dami po ninyo, mayroon po diyang...hindi pa rin po tanggap na yoon pong nilalait-lait ninyo dati ay eto po, katuwang si Trina, na tumutulong pa ho sa inyo," Failon added.

"Noon ko pa po gustong sabihin, na kung maari po, maayos na po ang lahat ng gusot sa ating pamilya. Dahil lalo na po ngayon sa panahong ito," he said.

"Sobra ho itong pinagdadaanan ng aming pamilya ngayon. Isa man sa inyo ang magsabi na may duda kayo sa pangyayaring ito, isa lang po ang magsabi sa inyo, sasakyan po at sasakyan ng lahat ng galit sa akin," he added.

There was an earlier report that Failon was ordered included in the Bureau of Immigration's watchlist based on a request of Mrs. Etong's relative, who was not identified by Justice Secretary Raul Gonzalez.

Humble beginnings

Failon said his wife would often tell him that she was so proud of herself because even if she did not finish college, she was able to help her siblings who are college graduates.

Failon also expressed fear that he may not be able to raise his 12-year-old daughter Karishma the same way  that his wife was able to raise their eldest daughter, Kaye.

"Ngayon na nandiyan si Karishma, 12 years old, na siya rin po ang nagpapalaki, ang tanong ko po e, mapalaki po kaya si Karishma ng papalaki niya kay Kay?" he said. 

"Ang tanong po ni Karishma: ano na po ang mangyayari pagkatapos nito? Kung gusto po ninyo, at kaya po ninyong palakihin si Karishma...dahil pag umuuwi ako ngayon sa bahay ko, lalo na ho pag nagiisa ko, minsan po iniisip e, ito na po yata yung pinakamabilis na solusyon sa problema ngayon. Magbabaril ako sa ulo ko, kayo na po magpalaki ka Karishma," he said.
 
"Alam ko pong masakit ang pangyayaring ito na nangyari po kay Trina, pero mas masakit po sa akin ito. Ako pa ho ang nagdala sa kanya sa ospital, kasama si Pamela," he said, referring to his wife's sister, Pamela Arteche-Trinchera, after which he broke down in tears.

Kaye's appeal

Meanwhile, eldest daughter Kaye also appealed to her relatives to unite in the face of her mother's tragic death. 

"Even in death, naging selfless si Mama. Ginamit niyang instrumento ang sarili niya para once and for all, ma-settle na nating ang mga differences natin sa isa't isa. Ginawa niyang instrumento ang sarili niya para ma-realize natin na kailangang magmahalan tayo," she said.
 
"We have to forgive each other, kung ano man ang nangyari, kung ano man ang mga nasabi at nagawa in the past, sana po, wag natin siyang sisihin sa mga nangyari. Instead, humingi po tayo ng tawad sa kanya, sa lahat ng mga maling nagawa natin sa kanya."

After the Mass, Mrs. Etong's remains were cremated at the Arlington's crematorium.

Earlier reports said Failon and his daughters were planning to take Trina's ashes home instead of keeping it at the Arlington's columbarium.

Failon and Pamela, together with five household helpers, went to the Quezon City Prosecutor's Office on Tuesday to answer police's complaints of obstruction of justice.

The charge was based on police's claims that Failon and the six other members of his household refused to cooperate with their investigation. -- with reports from NIÑA CORPUZ, ABS-CBN News; dzMM