Inihatid na sa kanyang huling hantungan sa Loyola Memorial Park, sa Marikina City, ang esteemed broadcast journalist na si Mario Dumaual, Linggo ng hapon, July 9, 2023.
Sumakabilang-buhay si Mario, sa edad na 64, dahil sa septic shock noong July 5. Resulta ito ng severe fungal infection nang magkaroon siya ng atake sa puso noong June 5.
Read: Veteran ABS-CBN entertainment reporter Mario Dumaual dies at 64
Bago inihatid si Mario sa Loyola Memorial Park, isang banal na misa, na pinangunahan ng kapatid niyang si Fr. Edgardo Dumaual, ang idinaos sa Hope Chapel ng Loyola Memorial Chapels sa Commonwealth Avenue, Quezon City.
Dinaluhan ito ng kanyang pamilya, malalapit na kamag-anak, at mga kaibigan.
Matapos ang banal na misa, isang eulogy ang ginanap, at kabilang sa mga nagsalita ang nakababatang kapatid ni Mario na si Dino Dumaual at ng kanyang anak na si Jose Miguel Dumaual.
Read: Ex-Star Patroller Marie Lozano remembers mentor Mario Dumaual: “Never nag-sick leave.”
TRIBUTE FROM BROTHER DINO
Ikinuwento ni Dino na "Yayo" ang tawag nila kay Mario. Patintero at tumbang-preso ang madalas na laro nila noong mga bata pa sila at naninirahan sa Makati City.
Pagsapit daw ng alas-otso ng gabi, sama-sama silang nagdarasal ng rosaryo, kasama ang kanilang mga magulang.
"Nakatulong sa aming career ang praying together as family," ani Dino, na napangiti habang nagkukuwento tungkol sa mga katangian ng kanyang kapatid na hindi nalalaman ng publiko.
"He can sketch really well. Kapag nagpapa-drawing ako ng babae, ang galing niyang mag-drawing.
"Guess what? Ano pa ang isang talent niya during that time? Do you know yung Kabam dance? Tapos, yung salsa, pre-Travolta years. Sumasayaw siya sa party nun, during those times. Nakita ko yon, tawa kami nang tawa noon," balik-tanaw ni Dino.
Patuloy niya: "When I submit essays, sa mga school contest, ipinapa-double check ko rin kay Kuya Mario kasi that early, magaling na siyang magsulat.
"And guess what? Hindi lang yon, pati love letters ko, during my teen years until I courted my wife, so nakatulong ‘yon.
"Si Kuya Mario, even though he was busy, looking back, yung mga important event sa buhay mo at sa family ko, he was there.
"Si Kuya Mario, you can describe him as relentless, resilient, hard-working."
TRIBUTE FROM MARIO'S SON MIGUEL
Ibinahagi naman ng anak ni Mario na si Miguel ang mga pangyayari habang nakaratay sa Philippine Heart Center ang kanyang ama, at may paliwanag din siya tungkol sa pagiging spokesperson ng kanilang pamilya.
Si Miguel ay nagtatrabaho rin bilang entertainment news reporter sa ABS-CBN News.
"Ako ang makapal ang mukha sa aming apat. Nagmana kay Papa na makapal yung mukha na humarap sa kamera, sa mga artista, sa mga pulitiko, whose strength of character also pushed him to be able to speak to different people from different walks of life," natatawang bungad ni Miguel.
"In the past month, when Papa was in the hospital, there were many times that he just really wanted to go home.
"So to put things in context, Papa was in the ICU three times. And between those three times, there were two times he was in the regular room and we could actually spend time with him, accompany him in the room.
"And when I was on his bedside, sa regular room, he actually told me, 'Migs, tatakas ako dito para makasama ko kayo sa bahay.'"
Read: Mario Dumaual’s colleagues pay tribute to veteran entertainment reporter
Sobra raw ang pagmamahal ng ama para sa pamilya.
"I know he was half-joking, but what preceded that was ‘I miss you all so much. I just want to be with you.’
"He also said that when we’re messaging over Viber because there was a time in the ICU that he was allowed to use his phone briefly to message us and all he said was, 'Miss you guys.'
"For Papa, family was everything. My mom, si Mama was his motivation for everything he did.
"Mama was his anchor, Mama was his life partner, and Mama was the reason he wanted to do good in all aspects of his life."
Dalawang beses na napahinto sa pagsasalita si Miguel, at nag-isip ng mga sasabihin dahil ayon sa kanya, pagod na siya.
"What I would like to share is that … not a place in our home will feel the same without Papa there.
"I grew up idolizing my father. So going home to ABS-CBN also, which is Papa’s second home, my second home, will also feel different because we have memories there together."
Patuloy ni Miguel: "And… sorry, I’m honestly just so tired. I am just so tired. It’s really difficult for all of us.
"We are figuring things how to navigate a life with this new set-up as a family.
"And I’d like to thank everyone for just being our source of strength during this time and for making us feel loved and making us feel how much you love Papa. Maraming salamat po.”
Read: Celebrities mourn passing of ABS-CBN entertainment reporter Mario Dumaual