Bohol killer quake, sorrow & hope in words

Wake-uppers:

Seen: Gremerson Idulsa Aladad of the Bohol Island State University (BISU)-Tagbilaran has topped the Oct. 2014 Mechanical Engineer Licensure Examination.  Aladad got a 93.8 percent rating. According to PRC, there were 2,960 out of 3,841 who passed the exam.

Seen: Miss Bohol 2014 Queenie Melody Fullante is Miss JCI Phiippines 2014.

Fullante

Scene: October 15, 2014 is a special non-working holiday in Bohol, by virtue of Proclamation No. 887 signed by President Aquino.

Scene: Holger Horn is elected president of Panglao Scuba Diving Association (PASS). Other elected officers are Henry Hoeppner, vice-president; Laarni Lehtonen, secretary; Kwatz Gomez, treasurer; and Marlon Lamagna, auditor. The association is institutionalized through Municipal Ordinance No. 12, Series of 2013 and therefore fully recognized by the Municipality of Panglao.

Scene: The successful 1st PanubigFestival of Pilar town yesterday. Take a bow, Butch Bernas! Take a bow, Mayor Nita Cubrado!

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Day of disaster/I can never forget/tired and thirsty.

This Wednesday, Oct. 15, will mark the one-year anniversary of the horrific earthquake that struck Bohol.

In the year that has passed, much has changed. Mountains of rubble have not been fully cleared. Bohol mourns the deaths of more than 200 people and five missing, one year after.

When an earthquake hit Bohol, Latigo (FT. kidothz), a group of Boholano rappers, wrote these words in Nov. 2013:

linog! atung siyudad kay gi uyog/ daghang natumpag kay ang yuta ni kurog/ na hugno ang mga kabalayan/ unya nangaguba ang mga simbahan

waytubig, way kurente ug walay pagkaun/ nagdungan ang ka uhaw ug ang ka gutom / maonay problema sa mga biktima karun / mao ng mamalihug ta ko sa inyung donasyon

Another rap group, Anastazy Pro from Calape town, composed the song Bangon Bohol in Jan. 2014.

Collected here are recent images of those affected by the disaster, 

coping and moving on one year later. -LPU

Nakita sa kadaghan ang atoang katilingban,/ Akip na ang kahimtang ning atong ka igsuonan/daw na wad-an sa pagla-um,/ uban natong igsuon dili pa-ulahi para mobalik ta / ug mobangon sabay sampit sa kahitas-an / dili nato kalimtan ayaw huna-hunaa nga mo duol rata / kung kinahanglan kay wala siyay gi pili / andam siyang mo alagad sa atong palibot /  nga daghan na ang nanga samad.

Another song dedicated to the victims of the earthquake Bangon Bohol written by Ralph Maligro:

Itinayong tahanan gusali't simbahan / naglahong bigla , na parang bula /ang pangkabuhayan ng bawat isa/ 'san na napunta , 'san na kukuha

Bangon Bohol , bangon bol-anon/ Tayo ay sinubok lamang ng panginoon / ano mang hamon sa buhay haharapin/ lahat susuungin , lahat kakayanin

sa likod ng ngiti ay mga luha/ naghihinagpis nangungulila/ buhay'y nasawi , di na maibalik/ hinahanap-hanap , yakap mo't halik

Engr. Soc Saletrero’s Bangon Igsoon (Bohol Sandugo Song Festival 2014 grand winner), reminds us to put our trust in the Lord.  

Pailob lang igsoon sa na-aguman mo’ng katalagman nga ningdangat/ Hinumdumi nga ang tanan pagsulay man sa Kahitas-an.

Rhymathics Featuring Thea’s Bohol We Will Rise tells us that the Lord is our protector and strength.

Much has been said and written about the Oct. 15 quake. Yet, for all these words, the scope of the disaster and the depth of the sorrow have felt unknowable. The good part is we come to understanding/acceptance/moving on.

It’s now safe, /It’s over,/the Lord is on our side.

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Thanks for your letters, all will be answered. Comments welcome at leoudtohan@yahoo.com, follow leoudtohan at Twitter /Facebook.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Wake-uppers:

Scene: ABS-CBN’s Sagip Kapamilya Giveaways/Relief Goods was held last Friday in Booy District, Tagbilaran City.  Kapamilya Stars who were there were Julia Barretto, Jovit Baldivino (who sang Pagsubok and Pusong Bato), Ryan Bang, Sam Milby, Kian Cepriano, Empress, John Prats, John Lapus and Direk Loren Dyogi. Re-elected Booy barangay Captain Jun Telmo was also busy manning the event.

Scene: Panglao Mayor Leonila Paredes-Montero was giving raffles for the affected families in the Bohol Airport project in Panglao for their homes in the resettlement area allocated by the provincial government and the preparations for the sustainable livelihood projects.

Kapamilya stars Ryan Bang, John Prats, John Lapus, et al during the Sagip Kapamilya Giveaways/Relief Goods held in Booy, Tagbilaran City. Courtesy: Marcel Quibol-Arabejo

Scene: It’s goodbye for this teacher who was terminated by the school admin. “Students filed complaints against this teacher for act of lasciviousness and corruption,” says the unimpeachable VRS codenamed EP (Welcome back!- LPU). “The teacher was caught in the act giving “job” with the students inside the classroom,” adds VRS. “Nagkagubot jud ang tibuok school! The students accused the teacher that they were advised to buy aircon and other stuffs in order to pass the subject.” Leaving school, the teacher can see the world free!

Scene: From PIA-Bohol: Bohol Light Company Inc. says it is still impossible to have a definite schedule of power rationing as of this time while power transmission pattern from NGCP is still unstable.

Scene: Youth leader John Maraguinot posted on Facebook: Help! Next week, Bangon Bohol Relief Drive and the rest of the member organizations of ONE BOHOL will be in the Eastern Visayas to spearhead the Balik Bohol Reintegration Program and Leyte Relief Operation. The program will bring medical, debriefing, mass feeding, and evacuation services to the survivors (evacuation service will be limited to Boholanos only). Right now, we are still short of the needed supplies like rice, biscuits, candies, bottled water, sackoline, coffee, milo, and sugar. For this I appeal for support and assistance to all of my family members, relatives, and friends. Please PM me for inquiries or text at 09179985410.

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Believe it or not, the holiday season is almost here.

Last week, many of us gathered with family and friends sharing a Thanksgiving meal. Thanksgiving Day is usually celebrated in the US. We, Filipinos, don’t have a specific date for a Thanksgiving celebration because we always like to celebrate if we want to.

In New York, fashion icon EJ Relampagos had witnessed for the first time the 87th Annual Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade last Thursday (Friday in Phl).

Fashion icon EJ Relampagos has experienced his first Thanksgiving Day in the US. Courtesy: EJ Relampagos

Macy's Famed Giant Helium balloons took flight despite a windy day in New York City.

“The sun does not after all guarantee a warm ambience... still the show must go on! Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade was a huge success,” said EJ. “It lasted for 3 hours and I have to say it made me feel like watching my first Cinderella movie! Everything looked magical. I never thought a parade could be that grand and fabulous!!! Oh New York...”

At Macy’s, making their debut this year were Adventure Time with Finn and Jake, Snoopy with his pal Woodstock, Toothless from "How to Train Your Dragon", The Wizard of Oz and Happy Hippo. With Hanukkah falling on Thanksgiving this year a special spinning Dreidel balloon made its way down the parade route.

Eye-catching were the regular balloons like Spider Man, Buzz Lightyear, Diary of a Wimpy Kid, Hello Kitty, Sonic along with clowns, bands and floats.

After the parade, EJ had a dinner in NYC streetfood Halal and he slept early to gain energy for the Black Friday Sale at the 5th Avenue. (How about EJ’s date in NYC? Globetrotting VRS in New York is asking.)

In Los Angeles, California, Mikey Gatal celebrated Thanksgiving Day by watching a movie with Kevin.

Last week, Mikey had a successful “slippers and apple drive” outreach program in Booy Kindergarten schools. More than 100 kids were given slippers and 100 apples.

US-based Boholano socialite Mikey Gatal bringing his “pink box” with Miss Universe 2012 1st runner-up Janine Tugonon during the Haiyan charity event.  Courtesy: Mikey Gatal

“ So glad to see happy faces all over the place,” said Mikey. “The ‘Apple Drive’ in Bohol Philippines was a success, big thanks to Anciro Romana, Atty Sandy Roxas and to the OMG Hunks and Babes for this effort Pham Marzon, Nikki Gatal Quintia, Marjo Gatal-Duma, Mayen Gatal, Filipina Castillon-Rio, Wardiflex Eduardo and Rj Garcia (the ‘apple boy’ in the Philippines) for the inspiration to do more.”

Mikey who was bringing his “pink box” to spread awareness that Bohol earthquake victims also need help also joined the Haiyan Relief Project Free Benefit Concert which was attended by Miss Universe 2012 1st runner-up Janine Tugonon. Vincent Kinne, a Thai actor (in Dragonwolf movie) also attended the event.

After Thanksgiving Day, we will celebrate our Savior’s birth and then ring in the New Year.

I encourage everyone to thank God for all that He’s done-both big and small. There is so much for us to be thankful for, and Thanksgiving Day should be every day. 

As the great psalmist says in Psalm 100:4-5, “Be thankful and say to him, bless and affectionately praise His name! For the Lord is good and his love endures forever; his faithfulness continues through all generations.”

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2013: Your best moment

What was your Best Moment of 2013?  As 2013 draws to a close, many of us will be looking back to our most memorable, extraordinary moments of the year.

VRS want to hear from you: What’s the one picture that truly captures your 2013 highlight? What will you remember most?  

Share it with VRS, alongside a short description why it was so special for you. E-mail leoudtohan@yahoo.com.  The most compelling stories will be featured in VRS.

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Thanks for your letters, all will be answered. Comments welcome at leoudtohan@yahoo.com, follow leoudtohan at Twitter /Facebook.

Bohol will rise again!

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.

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Earthquake cancels wedding

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.

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Thanks for your letters, all will be answered. Comments welcome at leoudtohan@yahoo.com, follow leoudtohan at Twitter /Facebook.