Tagbilaran City Mayor Jane Yap paid tribute to the late broadcaster Teofredo “Fred” Araneta as she reminisced the time she spent with him and the lessons she obtained from Bohol’s radio icon.
As this developed, the Sangguniang Panlalawigan of Bohol, the Sangguniang Panglungsod of Tagbilaran City and the Sangguniang Bayan of Dauis each passed a resolution honoring the late broadcaster.
Moreover, in separate occasions, Gov. Aris Aumentado and Cong. Edgar Chatto expressed their condolences to the family of Fred Araneta.
Araneta passed away on Sept. 12, 2022 at the age of 74, and his death came as a shock to the entire Boholano community.
Araneta’s contribution to the local broadcasting industry spans 50 years from the time he started his career back in the 1960s at the now defunct dyML until the time of his death.
Boholanos know Fred Araneta as the broadcaster with an iconic voice that catapulted him to become a household name. He is also admired as a fair, just and mild-mannered person. People claim that they never heard Araneta raising his voice against any caller during broadcast time. His fans say that he was someone oozing with wisdom, humility, understanding, kindness and most of all, RESPECT for his listening audience.
On September 12, 2022, the lady mayor dedicated a post in her Facebook account to Fred Araneta.
“Our deepest sympathies to the bereaved family of Sir Fred Araneta. I cannot forget our last conversation last Saturday nga, you are very proud of me and Baba. I will not let you down. As I have said, I will offer my life for Tagbilaran City and the next generation of Tagbilaranons. Salamat kaayo sa daghang advice and inspiration Sir Fred. I will miss you. Till we meet again. I’ll always be reminded of your unconditional love and dedication para sa Tagbilaran every time sa atong Mayor’s report kada Sabado and remind me that I have an angel in heaven looking down on me,” the mayor said in her post.
In a separate post, former Mayor and now Chief of Staff John Geesnell Yap II wrote about the passing of Araneta.
“Rest easy on the wings of eternity Sir Fred Araneta. Sa bata pa ko, maminaw mi sa program ni sir Fred Araneta, and kada naay mangayo og tabang, among parents nga si John and si Geesnell Yap, mag padala ug kwarta nga gi sud ug sobre ang naka suwat JG and Baba. Sa pagka Mayor na nako, partner nato si sir Fred Araneta for nine years sa Meet the Mayor every Saturday and mao pod sa time ni Mayor Jane Yap. Our deepest sympathies to the bereaved family.” Chief of staff John Geesnell Yap II wrote.
Araneta is survived by his wife, Germana Linda; his two daughters and in laws, Eileen & Robert and Jeanne & Daniel; and the grandchildren, Mathew and Katelyn.
Araneta comes from a family of media people. His siblings are: the late top caliber broadcaster Raul Araneta, educator Cecilia Araneta-Burns, another media person dubbed as Bohol’s Queen of all Media Ardy Araneta-Batoy and the youngest in the family who is also a broadcaster (aside from her being an educator) Gloria Leodivica Ines Araneta.
One nephew of Fred Araneta is also a media person and a popular figure in public speaking. He is Chandymar Araneta-Batoy. Chandymar’s brother named Gerrymar, used to be a disc jockey in Tagbilaran before he transferred to Cebu.Fred Araneta was a former president of the Bohol Tri-Media Association and used to be the number municipal councilor of the town of Dauis.