Loboc residents ask Our Lady to calm the river

By Leo Udtohan

TAGBILARAN CITY- The famous river in Loboc town has started to subside on Thursday afternoon, Jan. 12, after it reached critical level following the continuous rains brought by low pressure area and shear line.

As of Thursday afternoon, the water level of Loboc River in the area was already at

90 meters above sea level, lower compared to Thursday early morning.

There were 74 families in Barangay Valladolid were evacuated since Wednesday. They were part of the 626 families or 788 individuals evacuated in the province in 18 towns. 

Before the water level went down, residents turned to prayer. 

Residents placed an  image of the Our Lady of Guadalupe de Extremadura in front of the river at the Museo de Loboc building.

Expressions of religious piety have been practiced in Loboc town as a response to plagues and pandemics even during the arrival of the image on May 24, 1843.

Vir Jala, 50, said they seek comfort in prayer and appeal to God and the saints for mercy and protection from illness and loss of life.

"My parents taught us to seek help from Our Lady," said Jala, a father of three.

The veneration of sacred images and placing them outside the window of a house or a church is a religious expression known as "dungaw” (to look out).

Even passers could not help but look up to the image, and waved to the image.

The devotion to Our Lady of Guadalupe originated from the hilly town Guadalupe  in Spanish region of Extremadura, close to the Portuguese border.

Church records said the Augustinian Recollect brought the image of the Lady carved from black wood.

Like its Bohol descendant, the Spanish image is dressed like a queen, stands erect, and holds the Child in one arm. Both the mother and child are dark-skinned, and belong to the tradition of the “Black Madonnas” of medieval Western Europe.

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Photo caption:

The image of the Our Lady of Guadalupe de Extremadura was placed in front of the Loboc River in Loboc after it swells due to inclement weather, known as "dungaw” (to look out) to calm the river. Leo Udtohan/Inquirer Visayas

626 families evacuated in Bohol

By Leo Udtohan

TAGBILARAN CITY- At least 626 families or 788 individuals in Bohol province were evacuated due to nonstop moderate to heavy rains due to low pressure area and sheer line. 

In a situational report from the  Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO) at 2 p.m. Thursday, it reported 626 families composed of 788 individuals who were evacuated from at least 18 towns. 

The evacuees were brought to the temporary shelters or centers. 

In Clarin, there were 40 families evacuated in Barangay Bonbon, 45 families in Barangay Nahawan and 61 families in 

Poblacion Norte.

There were 146 families in Jagna, 74 families in Barangay Valladolid in 

Loboc town where the river was at critical level on Thursday morning. 

There were15 families evacuated in Barangay Estaca in Pilar town. 

At least 38 families evacuated in Inabanga town, 23 families in Dagohoy town. 

In Lila town, four families in Barangay Poblacion, 15 families in Barangay Calvario. 

Gov. Aris Aumentado distributed relief goods to the affected families. 

Bohol has been on red alert status since Wednesday due to bad weather.

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Photo caption:

The Loboc River  after the water slowly subsides on Thursday, Jan. 12, 2023 after 74 families were evacuated.  Photo courtesy of Mayor Raymond Jala.

Aumentado suspends classes in Bohol due to inclement weather

By Leo Udtohan

TAGBILARAN CITY — The provincial government of Bohol has suspended classes on Thursday, Jan. 12, in all levels in public and private schools, due to incessant rains. 

In an advisory, Governor Aris Aumentado said that flooding is threatening in low-lying areas and landslides in mountainous areas.

He said the provincial government through the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO) will continue to monitor and keep the public posted on weather updates.

The inclement weather on Wednesday flooded some areas in Bohol.

In Pilar town, water flooded Purok 3 in Barangay Del Pilar. 

The National Irrigation Administartion - Central Visayas advised preemptive evacuation for communities close to Wahig River as the Malinao Dam overflowed. 

Three persons were rescued in Getafe town after their pump boat sank due to inclement weather. 

According to Pagasa, scattered rain showers will continue to prevail over several parts of the country due to the shear line and a low-pressure area (LPA). 

The LPA was last seen 475 kilometers east of Surigao City, Surigao del Norte, the state weathe bureau added. 

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Photo caption: 

The Malinao Dam in Pilar town, Bohol on Wednesday, Jan. 12, 2023 after it reached full capacity that families nearby where advised to leave the area. Photo: NIA-7