Veteran Capiz mediaman laid to rest
ROXAS CITY – A veteran journalist, who died last July 16 of lingering illness, was buried last Saturday afternoon at Divine Mercy Memorial Park here.
Romeo Alajar Arceño, who is a good writer and broadcaster, was bed-ridden for several months before he died. He was 79 years old.
A noted writer and broadcaster, Arceño had contributed articles in the Philippines Free Press, The Capiz Times, The Visayan Times, Ang Kapisnon, Kabalaka, WV Daily Times, the defunct Daily Informer and other regional newspapers.
As a radio man, he was accredited announcer by the Broadcast Media Council (BMC), the forerunner of the Kapisanan ng mga Brodkaster sa Pilipinas (KBP) in the late 70s. He is known as “Mr. Brodkaster,” having served various radio stations – dyRX, dyRO, dyVR, and dyJJ, all in Roxas City.
Roming, as he is fondly called by friends and family, first served in government service in the auditor’s office of the municipal government of Capiz (now Roxas City) and was among the surviving employees who was present during the signing of R.A. No. 603, by President Elpidio Quirino here in Roxas City on May 12, 1951, creating the capital town of Capiz into a chartered city named after President Manuel Acuña Roxas, the last president of the Philippine Commonwealth and first president of the Republic of the Philippines.
He later worked at the Capiz Agriculture and Fishery School in Bailan, Pontevedra, Capiz, 1977, as disbursing officer, later known as Panay State Polytechnic College, and then later as Capiz State University (CAPSU).
He has worked also in the Office of the Congressman Juliano Alba in Manila. He engaged in cargo forwarding in various forwarders in Manila.
Roming is a member of various organizations and civic clubs. Among these are the Rotary Club of Roxas-Hillside, Capiz Press Club, Capiz Association of Mass Media (CAMM), Cursillo de Christianidad, Knight of Columbus, KBP, Communicators for Agricultural and Rural Development (CARP) based in UPLB Laguna, with Benny Cortes and lawyer Angelito C. Inocencio.
He was the past president of the Association of Disabled Persons of Capiz and Roxas City. He is the head of the Office of the Senior Citizens Affair (OSCA) under the office of the City Mayor, and retired from the government service after more than 40 years.
Arceño is survived by his wife, Eufrecia Solorio, and children namely: Romarkson, Cyril, Dennis, Ruth Grace, Don, Mary D, Marlyn, and Danilo.