Peaceful Passing Away
According to Daniel, eldest son of Yap, the passing away of the congressman was peaceful as all his family members were beside him when he took his last gasp of breath.
“He passed away peacefully. Until his last breath, my father was very strong as he already surrendered his fate to our Almighty Creator,” he said.
Josefino Razon, a close family friend and the senior staff of Yap in his congressional district office, said that he died with his mind still focused on the legislative measures he has filed in congress.
“Even in his death bed, he was still working and reading reports regarding the financial assistance he was providing his constituents,” Razon said.
According to Razon, Yap had a fracture in the right side of his hip due to an accident he suffered around four months ago. But Razon was quick to add that his fracture has nothing to do with the congressman’s passing away.
“He was not aware that he had a fracture. Naramdaman na lamang niya nitong mga huling dalawang buwan,” he explained.

Tarlaquenos Hail Yap
The death of Yap came as a surprise to many as no one, except his close family members, knew about his fading health.
“I was surprised,” Arvin Cabalu said. “I had constant communication with him and I never suspected that he has a serious ailment. He will be missed.”
Former Maliwalo Barangay Captain and ABC Federation President Ernesto Galang said in a text message that Yap “is the father of Tarlac province, a true man of peace and a big loss to Tarlaquenos.”
Herminio Agravio, a longtime associate of Yap commented that “he was a strong pillar of good governance.”
Board Member Frank Dayao in an interview said that “Tatang Aping will be remembered by Tarlaquenos for a long time because of his legacies and strong commitment to serve the public.”
Tarlac city mayoralty candidate Sherwin Rigor noted that Yap “is a good mentor and is pro-people when it comes to public service.”
First district Board Member Pearl Angeli Erguiza-Pacada, in a press statement said that “the demise of Cong. Aping Yap is a sad news. He was part of our political life. I will be forever be grateful for the good things he taught me like a father, especially on dealing nicely with the masses. We lost a leader. Let us pray for the repose of his soul. May he rest in peace.”

Yap’s Rise to Power
Born from a poor family in the municipality of Victoria, Yap’s rise to political power was phenomenal.
Barely 20 years old, the people of his hometown elected him as the youngest ever mayor in the country, a record he still holds today.
In the 60’s, Yap was elected twice as congressman of the second congressional district of Tarlac until the declaration of Martial law in 1972 when he was arrested and detained for his participation in an uprising against then President Ferdinand Marcos. Together with then Congressmen Ramon Mitra, Wigberto Tanada, Jose Cojuangco and Jose Diokno, their group was known as “The Young Turks”.
After the popular “People Power” revolution in 1986 that propelled Corazon Aquino to power, Yap was appointed as the administrator of the Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System and in 1988, he was again elected as congressman of the second district and held to it until 1998 when he won as governor of the province of Tarlac. In 2007, after finishing his third and last term as governor, he again won as second district congressman for the sixth time.
Until his demise, he was a member of the GRP-NDF peace panel.

TPRC’s Condolences
The Tarlac Press and Radio Club (TPRC), the biggest media organization in the province of Tarlac, through its President, Arvin Cabalu, said that the death of Yap is a big loss to the media circle.
“In behalf of the officers and members of the TPRC, we are one in joining the Tarlaquenos in mourning the death of Tatang Aping. May his soul rest in peace,” Cabalu said.
Yap gave TPRC, through its cooperative, a half million grant last year.
A resolution of sympathy and an expression of great loss was signed by the officers of the TPRC.

Tarlaquenos Paid Their Last Respects
Thousands of Tarlaquenos, upon learning of Yap’s death immediately went to his wake in Quezon city to pay their last respects.
At the provincial capitol, in his hometown in Victoria and in Mababanaba San Jose town, thousands upon thousands are expected to pay their last respects for Yap.