By NITZ ARANCON Correspondent THOUSANDS attended the funeral of former mayor Pablo Magtajas yesterday afternoon, exactly a week after he died of cardiac arrest in a hospital here. A group of priests officiated the requiem mass for one of the most loved mayors of the city in recent years and whose administration was credited for the start of Cagayan de Oro’s transformation into a highly urbanized city. Among the priests were Monsignors Perseus Cabunoc, Elmer Abacahin, Tex Legitimas, Rey Monsanto. Chief Insp. Mardy Hortillosa, spokesman of the Cagayan de Oro City Police Office (Cocpo), said  a crowd of about 5,000 came to see the body of the former mayor brought from city hall to the St. Augustine Cathedral at around 1 pm up to the Greenhills Memorial Park in Bulua later in the afternoon. Magtajas, who died at 77, was laid to rest beside his wife Anita’s grave. Councilor Suzette Daba, Magtajas’s daughter, broke into tears as she thanked the people who express sympathy to her family. “Sakit palandongon ang pulong kamatayon,” said Daba as she cited what her father did for the city when he was mayor from 1984 up to 1998. She said, “He was more of a public servant  than a politician.  His service was more on dedication, and was driven  by his principles in line with the Word of God.” Daba said her father was twice awarded by Malacanang as most outstanding mayor in Region 10. “He started  the economic boom  of Cagayan de Oro City. He was able to invite  many investors into the city,  bringing employment  and inproving the life of the Cagayanon.” At the sidelines, those who knew Magtajas up close and personal revealed many things about the late former mayor that not many people are aware of. For instance, Magtajas had loved the pop jazz ballad “I’m a fool to love you” -- his song for his late wife Anita -- that he sang it every time he had a good day. His former security aide, retired Insp. Sergio Bentuzal, recalled Magtajas singing it in a taxi they took in Manila after the then mayor succeeded in convincing the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) to approve a road concreting project from Nazareth to Macasandig. He said Magtajas’s wife Anita also loved the 1951 song co-written and first recorded by Frank Sinatra. “Basta dunay iyang  project nga ma-approve, mokanta dayon na siya sa ‘I’m a fool to want you,’” Bentuzal said. For Gusa barangay chairman Marlo Tabac, who started as a youth leader when Magtajas was mayor, described the late former mayor as a very approachable politician who was very easy to deal with. “Usa sa mga butang nga dili nako malimtan ni Mayor Magtajas, nga kon dunay magpapirma niya,  bisan na-a siya sa dalan, ug  gikan  ba kaha siya  sa sulod  sa simbahan,  iya lang ka nga ipatalikod,  ug iyang pirmahan sa imong book-boko sa  imong  likod ang  imong papel,” Tabac said. Former Indahag barangay chairman Carmelito Damo, now a village councilor, said the same thing about how easy it was for anyone to approach and discuss matters with Magtajas. “Wala gyud problema si Mayor Magtajas kay  dili ka mataha niya kon  dunay imong toyo sa iya,  mahimo nimo siyan  duolan  bisan asa,” Damo said. He credited Magtajas for donating five hectares in Taguanao, Indahag where the government started the construction of a convention center. The project though remains unfinished to this day. Councilor Teodulfo Lao Jr., who served as barangay chairman of Lapasan  during the Magtajas administration, called the late former mayor as a “very simple man and humble man” who begrudged no one. “He could  be accessible anywhere -- even in his room and at the dining table,” Lao said.