Need
to say more? The 7.2 magnitude earthquake that hit the
province last Tuesday damaged infrastructures, pulverized historical monuments,
polarized commerce, destroyed livelihoods and killed people.
Photo by Leo P. Udtohan |
Hours
after the quake, my heart broke when I saw the centuries-old churches destroyed
by the killer quake. Oh, very sad!
The
quake was a great equalizer, sparing neither rich nor poor, neither the famous
nor ordinary mortals.
Environmentalist
Boy Ancog and friends are right that for being good and
prayerful people, we are still lucky that:
. . . the calamity did not happen on a Sunday when all churches should have been crowded with churchgoers;
. . . the incident did not happen after 10:00 am, when all the malls should have been opened for jam-packed shoppers;
. . . that day was a non-working holiday where schools should have been full of children and offices and workplaces are full of working people;
. . . that it was daytime and everybody was awake and alert. . .
Truly, it is the nature of Nature to follow its course no matter what it cost . . . but it is God's nature to bring us miracles.
. . . the calamity did not happen on a Sunday when all churches should have been crowded with churchgoers;
. . . the incident did not happen after 10:00 am, when all the malls should have been opened for jam-packed shoppers;
. . . that day was a non-working holiday where schools should have been full of children and offices and workplaces are full of working people;
. . . that it was daytime and everybody was awake and alert. . .
Truly, it is the nature of Nature to follow its course no matter what it cost . . . but it is God's nature to bring us miracles.
***
Bohol
is also famous as a wedding destination.
Our old churches give timeless and precious memories for those who want
to seal their love in the province.
On
July 15, this year, Mikel and Eden Ceballos (nee Descallar) got married at the
famous Our Lady of Assumption Church or Dauis Church.
“We
chose Dauis because the church itself is timeless. It was a privileged for us
to hold our special day in Dauis,” said Mikel.
Joan Jagonos and Benjie Oliva |
Three
months after, the couple woke up last Tuesday and learned that the Dauis church
severely damaged.
“We
visited the Church and I cried. The place is very memorable for us where we
promised to love each other,” said Eden, who is down-trodden by the tragedy.
The
other day, the couple went to Loboc and Maribojoc to give relief goods together
with their Globe Telecom family.
Dream
weddings don’t happen easily.
It
took former Commissioner of the National Youth Commission (NYC) and Department
of Agriculture administrative officer Benjie Oliva and his wife Joan Jagonos over
a year to prepare for their dream wedding which was supposed to be held
yesterday (Oct. 19) at Dauis Church.
What
the Oliva couple was not prepared for was a 7.2 magnitude earthquake that would
shatter their wedding unforgettable.
“We
decided t postpone the wedding considering the damage cost by the earthquake
that hit Bohol. The Dauis Church was totally damaged,” said Benjie in an
interview while he and Joan are volunteering at the St. Joseph Cathedral for
the relief goods.
Mikel and Eden (nee Descallar) Ceballos |
“We
have no choice, I think it will be awkward to celebrate while there are
countless people who are suffering because of the earthquake,” said Joan. “We
can celebrate anytime but helping other people in times of need, you cannot
postpone it. You have to help now.”
They
held relief operations in the affected areas of Catigbian, Loon and Maribojoc.
Even
their honeymoon in Australia, scheduled for a few days after their wedding, was
already set. But the couple decided to donate the money for the affected
families.
“Joan
and I decided that our budget for our honeymoon will be used to our relief
operation,” said Benjie.
On
the other hand, I heard that actor Cesar Montano is now finalizing a
fund-raising concert for the quake victims and survivors.
GMA News: Click here.
GMA News: Click here.
***
Thanks for your
letters, all will be answered. Comments welcome at leoudtohan@yahoo.com, follow
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