At last, Norwegian will be laid to rest
Financial help poured after TNT posted report on the net
Iloilo -- The corpse of Jan Helgensen Antonsen, a Norwegian who remains unburied for more than one month will be finally laid to rest in a Roman Catholic cemetery in Zarraga, Iloilo on Wednesday, November 30, 2005.
This after a Dutch national who have read Antonsen's story in The News Today's website offered to give P30,000 to the Norwegian's widow, Marivic Despe, for the burial expenses. The Dutch, however, wanted to stay anonymous.
The financial help will be coursed through Ben Keultjes, a retired officer of the Royal Dutch Navy, who helps Antonsen's family in Zarraga coordinate with the Norwegian embassy.
Antonsen's interment will be at 10:30 a.m. right after a mass at the Roman Catholic Church of Zarraga.
However, Keultjes lamented that the Norwegian government has yet to offer help to Antonsen's bereaved family in Zarraga, Iloilo who still has pending hospital bills of P336,794.44 at the Iloilo Mission Hospital in Iloilo City.
Brgy. Capt. Rosita Seloterio of Brgy Tuburan Sulbod, Zarraga where Antonsen's family resides expressed gratefulness over the development.
Seloterio has long been troubled by the continued laying of Antonsen's corpse in their house for more than a month now. She was afraid the corpse which already starts decomposing would cause health hazard in their barangay.
To note, Antonsen's body remained unburied for more than a month since his common-law wife Despe do not have money to spend for his burial.
Aside from the pending hospital bills, Despe also has accountabilities with the funeral parlor that rendered services to her husband.
Despe, an ordinary housewife, has no source of income.
Antonsen, 52, died October 14, 2005 due to a lingering illness, cirrhosis of the liver.
He left Despe, his live-in partner of four years, and their three-year old daughter.
With the help of Keultjes, Marivic's sad situation reached the attention of the Norwegian Embassy in Manila.
However, Keultjes said that based on the communications he received from the embassy the Norwegian government is not inclined to help as there is allegedly 'no fund.'
Even Antonsen's family, whom Keultjes has reached through e-mail allegedly could not offer help as they also do not have money.