Former President Joaquin Balaguer made his first public appearance in almost three months yesterday, when he attended the mass in commemoration of the seventh anniversary of the death of his beloved sister, Ema Balaguer. Balaguer, has been declared presidential candidate for the Partido Liberal La Estructura for the 16 May elections. He attended the mass at the Iglesia Cristo Salvador, in the Honduras neighborhood. He arrived at 10:50 am. The priest was waiting for him to arrive to start the mass. A ramp was placed at the entrance of the church to facilitate his entrance. Listin Diario newspaper described the 93-year old blind former statesman’s walk as slow but firm. During the mass, a letter he wrote to his sister was read. In the letter he points out that people are separated more when they are forgotten than when they die. He writes about memories he has of his sister. He ends the letter: "There are many things that we would like to tell you, but since our voice is lost in a vacuum, we will tell you on the day, perhaps soon, of our inevitable encounter." The Listin Diario publishes a photo of Balaguer seated at a pew at the mass. His only surviving sister, Carmen Rosa appears to be praying in a lively manner, but Balaguer and his nephew, singer Lope Balaguer, appear with their eyes closed, apparently taking naps.
