CARMEN, Bohol– The 302nd
Infantry (Achiever) Brigade under the 3rd Infantry (Spearhead) Division (3ID)
of the Philippine Army has a new commander following a change of command
ceremony held at Camp Rajah Sikatuna in this town on Thursday, Jan. 11.
 |
Outgoing commanding
officer Brig. Gen. Arnulfo
Matanguihan turned over the command of the
302nd IB to its new commander Lt. Col. Ignacio Madriaga
on Thursday, Jan. 11, 2018. The ceremony was
presided by Brig.
Gen. Dinoh Dolina, commander
of 3rd
Infantry Division of the Philippine Army.
/Leo Udtohan
|
Lt. Col. Ignacio Madriaga
replaced Brig. Gen. Arnulfo Matanguihan who relinquished his duty after more
than a year of service as commander.
During the ceremony,
Matanguihan was awarded with a military merit medal interim to a distinguished
service star for his excellent service as commanding officer.
Brig. Gen. Dinoh Dolina,
commander of 3ID, presided the turn-over of command which was attended by local
government officials, PNP and Navy officials, civil society organizations,
partners and stakeholders and men and women of the 302nd Brigade.
Under Matanguihan’s leadership, the
infiltration of the 11 members of the Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) who tried to build
a base in Inabanga town was foiled. Government troopers successfully
neutralized the ASG members by killing each of the stragglers. He also led to
prevent the resurgence of insurgency in the province.
“Highlight nung tenure ko yung
operations natin against the Abu Sayyaf. They tried to challenge the Bol-anon
and we stood our ground, we fought and we succeeded. Yung ang pinaka-highlight
sa tenure ko dito,” said Matanguihan.
He will be transferred to the
9th Infantry Division in Bicol as its assistant commander.
He said he would surely miss Bohol.
“Ma-mimiss ko yung fiesta dito
at yung mga tao na sobrang hospitable,” he said.
 |
Gen. Arnulfo Matanguihan
with Inabanga
Mayor Josephine Socorro Jumamoy
and Clarin Mayor Allen Ray
Piezas. /Leo Udtohan
|
Matanguihan, who was a company
commander in the Army’s 53rd Infantry Battalion, 4th Infantry Division in
Mindanao, was the deputy brigade commander of 802nd Brigade, 8th Infantry
Division based in Leyte prior to his assignment in Bohol.
During the ceremony,
Matanguihan thanked the support of the local government units, especially the
provincial government, as well as other stakeholders in peace and development
for helping his leadership achieve many feats and for giving him a chance to
serve the people in his best capacity.
For his part, Madriaga, who was
at Army’s 5th Infantry Division under the Northern Luzon command, vowed that he
would sustain the peace and development in his new area of assignment.
“Ako po naman ay handa, napaghandaan ko po ang
position na ito. At hihingin ko po yung tulong ng mga kababayan dito sa Bohol
na tulungan niyo po ako at sama-sama tayo na magawa po natin at mahigitan po
natin kung ano po yung nagawa yung mga nauna sa akin. Ngayon lang po ako ay
nagpapasalamat na po ako sa inyong lahat,” said Madriaga.
 |
Provincial board member
(l-r) Ricky Masamayor,
provincial legal officer Atty. John Mitchell Boiser.,
provincial
prosecutor Macario Delusa and acting governor Benjie Arcamo
attended the change of command ceremony. /Leo Udtohan
|
Dolinah congratulated the
outgoing and incoming commanders and urged the soldiers to continuously do
their best in maintaining, winning the people’s minds, hearts and further
strengthening the peace and development efforts in the province.
***
Hundreds climb Bohol Calvary
for the feast of Black Nazarene
GARCIA HERNANDEZ, Bohol —
Devotion to the Black Nazarene is not only confined to those who flock to
Quiapo in Manila every Jan. 9.
Hundreds of pilgrims and
devotees in Bohol province climbed the mountain in this town to ask to be
healed and give thanks on the feast of the Black Nazarene on Tuesday, Jan. 9.
Rosalinda Huertas, 66, walked
at least 3 km to visit the chapel and offer prayers.
Huertas, who suffered from
pneumonia last week, believed that the Black Nazarene played a big role in
healing her sickness.
Edward Guyano, 43, was also
emotional when he visited the place.
 |
Some members of the Bohol
media -(l-r) your VRS, Dave Charles
Responte of dyRD and Allen Doydora of dyRD paid
their traditional New Year courtesy call on Bohol PNP director Senior
Supt. Felipe Natividad last Thursday
at the Bohol Provincial Police Office.
/Allen Doydora
|
He visited the mountain two
years ago before he had a stroke last year.
Guyano said the Black Nazarene
had never failed to answer his prayers.
It was on May 29, 2011 when
Marina Reblinca, a visionary and healer, brought the image of the Black
Nazarene from Palawan to Bohol Calvary (originally named Mount Kalagan) in
Barangay Malinao, Garcia Hernandez town and established a small chapel funded
by devotees.
Reblinca said the Nazarene told
her he wanted to be in Bohol Calvary.
“I followed his order, then
people flocked here,” Reblinca said.
She also said that the Black
Nazarene protected the place during the strong earthquake in 2013 and typhoons.
Since then, devotees consider
the mountain, with its serene silence, holy.
 |
| Devotees
walked more than 3 kilometers to reach the summit of “Bohol Calvary” in Garcia Hernandez, Bohol province, to attend the feast of the Black Nazarene on Tuesday, Jan. 9, 2018. Here pilgrims and devotees attended a healing session conducted by visionary Marina Reblinca. /Leo Udtohan |
On Tuesday, hundreds of
devotees attended the Mass. Since it was fiesta, they were treated to a
sumptuous lunch.
After the lunch, devotees
waited for the “patunob,” wherein the image of the Black Nazarene was placed on
the parts of the body for healing.
Huertas patiently waited for
her turn.
“Mutuo jud kay milgaroso mani
kay yearly ni kada simba diri naa man gud magpatunob ani magpasalamat naay
kaayuhan sa sakit. Magpasalamat,” she said.
[I believe the Black Nazarene
is miraculous. Every year there is patunob for healing and thanksgiving.]
When Reblinca placed the little
statue of the Black Nazarene at the devotees’ heads, shoulders and
hands, the devotees prayed and
kissed the image praying for healing and miracles.
She would give flowers she
blessed for healing and success in business.
 |
| Marina Reblinca |
“Kinahanglan maniwala jud sa
Poong Nazareno. Kay gamhanan mana siya, kay Ginoo gud na siya. Tanang problema
tabangan ta bisan muhilam sa iyang sinena, muhilam sa iyang kamut tanang sakit
nimo mawala. Basta mutuo ka naa sa imo na kung mutuo ka. Hugot imong pagtoo
mamaayo jud ka maskin cancer pa imong sakit,” she said.
[We should have faith in Him
because He is powerful. He is God. Even just touching his dress and hands, he
will help you in all your problems. Just have strong faith in him, even cancers
will be cured.]
For Huertas and Guyano, they
admitted that climbing Bohol Calvary was like embarking on a spiritual journey.
“Going there has nourished my
soul,” Guyano said. “It deepens my faith to a Supreme Being and nature.”
Huertas said that reaching
Bohol Calvary can help make one have a better perspective of life.
At the crest of the mountain,
visitors also visited a “wishing cave” to purify themselves and wish for
prosperity and abundance.
There was also a cave of faith
healers, known as a sacred place and some old boat coffins carefully protected
by local residents.
Visitors also felt mystery of
the huge stone shaped like a boat.
***
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