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Asia’s Latin City - -Thousands of Zamboanguenos paid their last respects to Councilor Asbi Edding, an institution in Zamboanga politics, who passed away midnight of April 2 due to cardiac arrest. He was 59. Mayor Celso Lobregat, who expressed grief over the loss of Edding, ordered all government agencies in the city to fly the Philippine flag at half mast as a tribute to the late Councilor. Edding succumbed to severe brain hemorrhage 12:20 a.m. of April 2 at the hospital due to a stroke four hours earlier. He was interred following the Muslim tradition at the Sheik Makhdum Memorial Park in Zambowood few minutes before 1 p.m. amidst a 21-gun salute.
Lobregat in his eulogy extolled Edding for his enormous contributions to Zamboanga not only as a legislator but also as a professor and a practicing lawyer. “We have lost a great leader, an esteemed legislator, a luminary in Zamboanga politics, an “abogado de campanilla” in the truest sense of the word, a man of wisdom and a dedicated father to his 6 children and loving husband to Nimfa”. “MY LOVE FOR YOU” is gone”, the mayor in his opening statement declared. He narrated his last moments together with Edding, specifically during his birthday last March 20 when the councilor joined him in his visits to the orphanages and Home for the Elderly to distribute foodstuffs and relief goods; during dinner tendered by the city in honor of Nigerian officials last weekend and a personal call he received from the councilor the other day informing him about his daughter’s success in the bar exams. Edding, he said, devoted 25 years of his life to public service starting off as an elected member of the City Council from 1980 to 1998; resting for one full term of three years from July 1998 to June 30 2001 and returning to the Council on July 1, 2001 until his death April 2 “with more vigor and dynamism”. “In the City Council, Councilor Edding sponsored a total of 265 ordinances, most notable of which were the numerous laws creating high schools in the different barangays of the city; ordinances creating flea markets and barangay slaughterhouses”, the mayor revealed. Edding was known for his favorite song “My love for You” which he dedicated to his wife Nimfa during campaign sorties. “Who would ever forget his campaign strategy during elections when he would call Nimfa to the stage and relate their love story and end it with the song “My Love For You”, Lobregat said, his voice cracking. Lobregat was at Edding’s bedside since past 8 p.m. until the councilor breathed his last four hours later. “Councilor Edding is home with his Creator. Like Councilors Villares and Velasquez—he is resting in peace with the Lord. While we grieve for his loss, let us be comforted by the fact that he is with safe in God’s hands now”. Councilor Villares passed away January 11 this year while Councilor Velasquez passed away two weeks after. Meanwhile, thousands of people—coming from all sectors of the community and representing the 98 barangays of the accompanied the late Edding to his final resting place in Zambowood. They all expressed grief and devastation at the untimely demise of the councilor. In her response, Edding’s widow, Nimfa, expressed appreciation to Mayor Lobregat’s support—moral, spiritual and otherwise, before, during and after the darkest hour in their life. She said the family is overwhelmed by the volume of people who paid their last respects to her husband. Edding is survived by his wife Nimfa and 6 children– Moammar, Al-Jihan, Jihan-El, Umma Omar, Rasnim y Sheik Abu Ammar. From the mosque at the Nuno’s compound in Guiwan, Edding’s remains were ferried aboard an open truck and given a “sentimental journey” to places where he used to be when he was alive: the Hall of Justice, City Hall and the City Council, before he was finally laid to rest. Zamboanga Archbishop Romulo Valles, Members of the City Council, city department heads and employees, barangay officials, government agency executives and NGO representatives were among those who attended the funeral. (Sheila Covarrubias)
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