Ka Roger says he will miss Tiya Dely

MANILA, Philippines - Communist party spokesman Gregorio “Ka Roger" Rosal on Tuesday joined the family, friends and fans of radio icon Fidela “Tiya Dely" Magpayo in mourning for her death. Magpayo, 87, died Monday night after suffering a stroke last Saturday while on deck in the radio booth of dzRH. “Nais kong ipaabot ang aking personal na pakikiramay sa mga kamag-anak at kaibigan ni Fidela Magpayo, na kilala ng lahat bilang si Tiya Dely (I would like to extend my condolences to the families and friends of Fidela Magpayo)," Rosal said. He described Magpayo as a solid institution in Philippine radio. “Ang kanyang pagpanaw matapos ng stroke noong nakaraang Sabado ay ikinalulungkot ng milyun-milyon niyang tagapakinig, kabilang na ang inyong lingcod (Her demise after suffering a stroke last Saturday is being mourned by millions of her listeners, including yours truly)," Rosal said. The communist spokesman said he fondly recalls his duet with Magpayo over the phone long time ago. He said they sang the immortal Filipino love song “Lumang Simbahan (Old Church)." Rosal also said that although he sometimes disagreed with the late radio icon’s political and cultural views, he would still tune in to her show for her radio dramas and on-air advice. “Sa mga bundok o saan man mapadpad ang inyong lingkod, ang malambing na boses ni Tiya Dely ay isa sa lagi nating pinakikinggan sa pamamahinga sa gabi (Whenever I am in the mountains or somewhere else, I always listen to Tiya Dely’s sweet voice when I rest at night)," he said. Rosal, himself an eloquent speaker in the native tongue, also praised Magpayo’s proficiency in the Tagalog language. Rosal added that fans would surely miss Magpayo. “Ang kanyang pangalan at alaala ay mananatiling nakatatak sa kamalayan ng mamamayang Pilipino (Her name and memory will always be etched in the consciousness of Filipinos)," he said. - GMANews.TV