Wake-uppers:
Scene: Sports enthusiasts were devastated by the
passing of sportsman and civic leader Nemi Monton last Oct. 4. As president of Amateur Boxing Association of
the Philippines (Abap) in Central Visayas, Nemi opened doors wider for Boholano
athletes (he discovered Rey “Boom Boom” Bautista, et al). He will be sadly missed for his energy, great
sense of humor and timeless example as discoverer of athletes.
 |
| Monsignor Alberto Uy is the new bishop of the Diocese of Tagbilaran. Courtesy: From the Facebook page of Msgr. Alberto Uy |
Scene: Pope Francis has
appointed Monsignor Alberto Uy as the new bishop of the Diocese of
Tagbilaran. He will replace Bishop
Leonardo Medroso, 77, whose resignation has been accepted by the pope. A priest for 23 years, Msgr. Uy is currently
the Episcopal Vicar of the Diocese of Talibon and at the same time the pastor
of St. Michael the Archangel Parish in Jagna town.
Scene: I thank the
esteemed judges and organizers of the Globe Media Excellence Award (GMEA) and
the Catholic Mass Media Awards (CMMA) for chosen me as one of the finalists of
GMEA’s Explanatory Story for “Rice Bowl of Central Visayas is near empty” and
CMMA’s Best Investigative Report on the 3-part series on the recovery of Bohol
after the Earthquake. Both articles were published in Philippine Daily
Inquirer. Thank you, thank you!
***
It’s
been three years since a magnitude 7.2 earthquake brought Bohol province to its
knees.
Three
years later, change is uneven although industries are bouncing back. The way
people see recovery and resiliency would depend on where they are since rehabilitation
and rebuilding efforts continue.
 |
After
the strong earthquake in 2013,
Boholanos have developed a powerful
sense of
disaster consciousness. Inocencia Reyes,
a grade 1 teacher of Cogon Norte Elem. School in Loon town,
demonstrates how to
use the “kuratong,”
a bamboo traditionally used to call the community, as
the
school revives it for disaster risk reduction.
Leo Udtohan/Bohol Chronicle
|
The
earthquake also taught Boholanos to be better prepared for disasters,
especially at the community level.
At
Cogon Norte Elementary School in Loon town, one of the hardest-hit areas, the school
has adopted the use of "kuratong" - a bamboo communication device -
to warn students and teachers of possible calamities.
Inocencia
Reyes, a Grade 1 teacher, said kuratong
is traditionally used to call community members to assemble at village halls
for meetings, alert people or call children home.
She
said the school revived the use of kuratong
as part of disaster risk reduction efforts, especially when earthquakes strike.
"In
case of power disconnection, we can use kuratong
to alert our students since no one knows when an earthquake will happen,"
she said, noting teachers and students were trained in using the device.
The
school has also a student-based disaster risk reduction (DRR) organized by Save
the Children to develop and capacitate student leaders who will serve as
advocates in promoting DRR in schools and communities to protect them from any
harm cause by natural and human made hazards.
Student
leaders were trained in first aid and emergency response, leadership,
communication and other life-saving skills. They also conduct seminars to their
schoolmates about disaster preparedness inside the DRR kiosk.
Boholanos
may have picked up the pieces, but the scar left by earthquake remains.
For
Genara Somoro, the Bayong falls in Barangay Katipunan in Sagbayan town, is hard
to look at, because this is the place where her two daughters and other three
lost their lives.
Three
years ago, Somoro’s siblings Jonalyn, 13 and Joellene, 11 and their
friends-Jess Marvin Empinado, 10, Meme Jane Empinado, 9, Reynaldo Sipsip, 15,
were taking a bath at Bayong Falls in Barangay Katipunan, Sagbayan town.
They
were swimming when the earthquake struck, triggering a landslide that buried
the children.
Their
bodies were never found making the families in a state of emotional and legal
limbo.
“Naka-recover naman ko after three years pero
lisud hikalimtan ang nahitabo makahilak gihapun ko makahiumdum sa akong duha ka
mga anak (I have recovered after three years, but I cry when I remember my
children),” said Somoro.
 |
| Genara Somoro is still thinking of her two daughters who perished during the earthquake in 2013.. |
But
she learned to accept their fates even closure is elusive.
“Sakit
huna-hunahunaun pero dawaton namo kay pagbuot man sa kahitas-an (It is painful
but I learned to accept it because it is Heaven’s will),” said Somoro who held
the photos of her daughters who vanished without a trace.
“Wala
ka namo makita (We never found you)," mother said to her daughters. "Pero
kahibaw mi asa mo- naa ka sa Ginoo run (But we know where you are — with our
Lord in heaven)."
The
Bayong Falls, which was a tourist destination, is now an abandoned place. It lost its beauty. No one else go there
except for the families of the victims who pay homage to the five children
every Oct. 15 and Nov. 1 which bring obvious comfort to the bereaved.
Somoro
said that although she thinks of Jonalyn and Joellene daily, their death
anniversary remains a special day.
Salome
Israel, 26, who lost her right arm and has a dislocated pelvic bones resulting
from the quake, has found a work at rural health office in Tubigon town after
three years. She said she was denied because
of her being handicapped.
“Time will take care and heal of everything,”
Israel said.
The
fraught passage of three years feels like “33 seconds” for Clement Paulinel
Ingking who lost her mother Linda during the 33-second quake.
“The
emptiness can't be filled by anyone... and the grief is always there behind the
smiles... we just chose not to move on in order not to forget her and all the
memories,” he said.
Full
recovery will take still longer.
***
Panubig festival goes on despite rain
Amid a downpour, the participants of the 3rd Panubig Festival in Pilar town last Oct.
11 drew cheers as they danced in honor
to Nuestra Señora del Pilar or
Our Lady of the Pillar, the town’s patroness.
 |
| The heavy rains failed to dampen the spirits of the Pilarnons who had to witness the 3rd Panubig Festival in Pilar town. Leo Udtohan/Bohol Chronicle |
The rain did not appear to affect the
enthusiasm of the dancers (seven from elementary and three from high school)
who wore colorful costumes and props as they showcased the tradition and culture
of the Pilarnons.
Butch
Bernas, Ph.D., the Panubig Creative
Team, said it was amazing "come rain or shine."
"It
was really pouring rain, but people stayed," Butch told VRS.
Hundreds,
many without umbrellas, including students, were drenched barely for three
hours, but stayed on, watching and supporting their favorite contingents.
“Panubig
literally water! It’s raining! It’s water!” said student Lloyd Quieta.
Giant
scarecrows also added attraction to the festival.
The event was hosted by Inday Rufing of Kiss
102.3 FM.
Take
a bow, Butch. Take a bow, Vanessa Cubrado-Unajan, Panubig Festival Executive Chair.
***
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