Boholanos remember devastating quake 4 years ago

Wake-uppers:

Scene: Who will be this year's ICM Glamorous Prince and Princess? Find out on Sunday, October 22, 3 p.m.

Scene:  From Ariel E. Fullido:  Angelina Cruz Montano, a Universal Records artist, ASAP performer, Careline model, and the celebrity daughter of Cesar Montano and Sunshine Cruz, will perform together with CenterStage band in the Search for Miss Interschool Personality 2017 of Mabini, this coming Sunday evening, October 29, at the town center. Sponsors of the event are ELGS, A & A Original Organic Red Wine, 4Life, Ms. Josen Cesar; and Purok Kamansi of Poblacion, Mabini, through its president, Danny Cellan, and organizer/adviser, Jericho Vergara.

Angelina Cruz Montano Contributed Photo

Scene: Clement Ingking shares this story: An elephant and a dog became pregnant at same time. Three months down the line the dog gave birth to six puppies. Six months later the dog was pregnant again, and nine months on it gave birth to another dozen puppies. The pattern continued. On the eighteenth month the dog approached the elephant questioning, "Are you sure that you are pregnant? We became pregnant on the same date, I have given birth three times to a dozen puppies and they are now grown to become big dogs, yet you are still pregnant. What’s going on?" The elephant replied, "There is something I want you to understand. What I am carrying is not a puppy but an elephant. I only give birth to one in two years. When my baby hits the ground, the earth feels it. When my baby crosses the road, human beings stop and watch in admiration, what I carry draws attention. So what I'm carrying is mighty and great.". Don't lose faith when you see others achieving their success! Don't be envious of others results. If you haven't received your success, don't despair. Say to yourself "My time is coming, and when it hits the surface of the earth, people shall yield in admiration."

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The provincial government of Bohol has been awarded as the “Most Business Friendly Local Government Unit” among all provinces in the Philippines, conferred by the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry and handed over by President Rodrigo Duterte during the 43rd Philippine Business Conference and Expo at Manila Hotel last Oct. 19.

“Among all the provinces, there were 14 finalists and Bohol was declared top! No second nor third! Only one,”  Balilihan Mayor Pureza Chatto posted on Facebook.

Last Sunday, Boholanos paused to reflect on a devastating 7.2-magnitude earthquake that struck the province on Oct. 15, 2013, destroying scores of structures, killing at least 200 of people, injuring at least 800, and displacing more than 300,000 survivors.

At 8:12 a.m., residents of this city observed a minute of silent prayer as church bells tolled to mark the fourth anniversary of the quake that devastated the province in 2013.

Some of the kids who are part of The Art Nouveau Models

 are joining this year’s ICM Glamorous Prince and Princess.  

Contributed Photo

The commemoration struck a somber note and also emphasized deeply entrenched grief and trauma of the disaster.

Some said they couldn’t believe four years had passed since the tragedy that to many still felt like it had happened “just yesterday.”

In Tagbilaran City, a Mass was celebrated at the St. Joseph the Worker Cathedral by Tagbilaran Bishop Emeritus Leonardo Medroso of the Diocese of Tagbilaran.

In his homily, Medroso asked the parishioners to pray for one another.

“We asked his grace to look forward for better things,” he said. “But the better thing is to have that spirit to accept good things that come from God and also to accept whatever calamity that come to our lives… that power of charity, the power of love.”

After the Mass, Bohol Gov. Edgar Chatto gave his message. He said that the earthquake allowed Boholanos to deepen their faith in God as they helped each other.

Chatto told VRS later that the recovery of the province was almost complete.

“We are very inspired with the recovery of the province of Bohol and its entirety,” Chatto said. “Generally, all the agencies that have committed their contribution in the quick rehabilitation of the province had delivered their 90 percent, 95 percent, and 100 percent.”

The collapsed facade of the Holy Trinity Church in Loay

 town after an earthquake in 2013 and finally 

it was restored after four years.  Photos by Leo Udtohan

Although he said certain agencies were able to achieve only 80 percent rehabilitation.

“The gaps that have identified have been quickly addressed with these agencies,” Chatto said. “We are not done with the whole process of the recovery, but definitely we are moving very, very quickly.”

Chatto said that some of the provincial statistics in the tourist arrival and business investments showed very good signs of the recovery of the province.

Several activities were also held in different towns on Sunday.

The Holy Trinity Church in Loay was formally turned over to local authorities on Sunday morning.

The 1855 Provincial Capitol Building, which was built in stone and lime as tribunal and garrison, was also restored and a soft opening was held Sunday afternoon. It took four years to restore it to make sure that the structure would not only regain its original form but would also be disaster-resilient.

In Maribojoc, local officials and residents gathered to commemorate the quake in synch with the 157th anniversary of the foundation of the town. A portion of a mountain in Maribojoc, which was scarred by the quake, was visible from the gymnasium where the event was held.

“The people have recovered from the tragedy,” Mayor Gumersindo Arocha said. “They have their own houses from the government.”

The families also visited cemeteries to remember those who had lost their lives.

Every Oct. 15, since the date of the deadliest earthquake, the Somoros and Empinados families would visit the Bayong Falls in Sagbayan town where their five children were buried.

“I’ll visit this place every year for the rest of my life,” Genara Somoro said.

“This is where I remember my children and this is where I get my strength. I will never forget,” she added.

The Barace family in Antequera town also visited the public cemetery to pay homage to their four family members who were all swallowed by a giant crack in the ground.

Full recovery will take awhile longer.

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

Rep. Yap and Mayor Calipusan: Deal or No Deal?

Buboy and Krista Courtesy: Facebook

Rep. Yap and Mayor Calipusan: Deal or No Deal?
No 'under the table' agreement between Rep. Yap and Mayor Calipusan, reports VRS

Wake-uppers:

FLASH REPORT: Did Sunshine Cruz and Cesar "Buboy" Montano really separate? Rumor has it that the couple ended their relationship because of a third-party, a starlet named Krista Miller. Sunshine announced in her Instagram that the reason for her separation with Buboy is another woman, and the third party is a starlet named Krista Miller (who plays Marita Zaragoza in the upcoming film “The Turning Cradle: The Untold Story of Alfredo Lim,” directed and starred in by Buboy). Sunshine announced this: “I’m so sorry dear friends and family. I have been really quiet but when kids are affected unfair na yun. It is actually them who told me about this. They are hurt! I’m moving on. With my children. God bless you both for doing this to us.” According to reports, Sunshine also revealed that the gifts she and her sister-in-law gave Buboy, were then gifted to the girl. Sunshine said an A&F shirt and an iPhone 5 she gave and her sister-in-law’s gift of Ferrero Rocher chocolates, were given to Krista instead. Sunshine also alleged that Krista has sent provocative and sexy pictures and messages to Buboy.

Seen: Spotted in Bohol the other day was Ms. Joy Suarez, president of Rotary Club of Tagbilaran and over-all manager of Astoria. I did an interview with Ms. Joy at the posh Astoria in Baclayon town. But that’s another interesting story. Watch for it.

Members of the Rotary Club of Tagbilaran

Seen: Minerva, Swan Hellenic’s solitary cruise ship, had a stopover in Bohol last Friday. Minerva is a small luxury ship, carrying 320 like-minded guests. Most of the passengers were British with a few Americans and Australians joining. Swan Hellenic has been offering cruises to intriguing destinations for more than 50 years.

Scene: The Ubi Festival 2013 is on Jan. 23-25.  The opening of exhibits on ubi, endemic rootcrops and sustainable agriculture products will be held on Jan. 23 at the Plaza Rizal, which will be followed by the search for pinaka (the best quality ubi harvest and endemic rootcrops), most promising ubi product, most promising ubi cuisine and ubi eating contest at the Plaza Rizal. The literary musical contest (balak, kuradang, rap and jingle, ubi poster making contest and Miss 4-H aka Ubi Queen will be held on the same day at the Island City Mall Activity Center.

Scene: I would like to thank Atty. Julius Gregory Delgado of CVCLAW (The Villaraza Cruz Marcelo and Angangco) for the nice planner he sent last Thursday. Atty. Delgado who attended the hearing on the cybercrime law had the time to mail his post- Three King gift with a (touching) note:  Dear Leo, this is late but as the old adage goes, "better late than never." Merry Christmas and wishing you a Happy New Year. I hope you will like this. I am not sure if you are like me who plans my activities to the detail which entails a planner. Otherwise, you can still use this as sort of a diary. Today, marks an important milestone in history as legal eagles battle it out before the Supreme Court to protect the civil liberties and freedom of expression of journalists. Having the Cybercrime Law annulled will be our ultimate gift to journalists. This is an advance gift. Gracias por todo, Atty. Greg! 

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While waiting for the fastcraft bound for Cebu last Friday night, I chanced upon the unimpeachable Very Reliable Source (VRS) at the waiting area, traveling by his lonesome. This VRS is a known political analyst cum businessman.

I turned around and there he was, the VRS. I waved at him. VRS asked me to join him, asking if he could get something for me. I protested, “Seeing you is enough.”

Yap

You see, Wednesday last week, Loboc Mayor Leon Calipusan withdrew his candidacy for congressman. I asked VRS if he knew the reasons but VRS simply smiled. What I knew is that Mayor Calipusan withdrew his candidacy for personal, health and family reasons (I saw his affidavit of withdrawal at the Provincial Comelec Office on Jan. 9).

In any case, many people are still asking if the so-called “under the table” is indeed a done deal.

On the two-hour travel, VRS was sharing everything he knew about politics and sundry.

“For a lazy thinker, the easiest theory when a candidate backs out from a political rivalry is that his opponent paid off to sail smoothly to victory,” started VRS. “But why should a candidate payoff his opponent? That is when his opponent is stronger than him and he is desperate to get to the seat.”

Or so we thought.

“Doy Leo, in the case of Calipusan’s backout, does incumbent Rep. Arthur Yap desperately need to buy the mayor’s candidacy out? Obviously, not!”

VRS shared that the supporters of Calipusan were all up with energy combing the barangays of 3rd district as early as June last year, until that deciding point in the latest round in December.
 
“An insider (codenamed GP) from the Calipusan camp admitted they even met objection when they put up the tarpaulins. That’s why most of them are nailed on trees,” said VRS.

“Doy Leo, after several months of trying to convince the households to support Calipusan’s congressional bid, they failed to get additional supporters. They targeted 10,000 leaders.  But by December, they failed to get even 10 percent,” revealed VRS. He continued, “The hope was dying by then, but there are some close allies of the mayor who tried to sugarcoat the situation in contrast to what Calipusan noticed himself. So, the mayor asked for a survey to also check how effective were his leaders, and at the same time, asked a another close ally to tell him the real score. The survey and the opinion of that second close ally he consulted gave him a sign of losing.”

“When each camp was busy on their own campaign, nobody wants to yield. Nobody wants to meddle as the wound that Calipusan’s radio blocktime created on Yap got more painful yet futile,” added VRS.

 Why should Yap rid of a foe who was self-destroying? According to a VRS from the Calipusan camp, Yap never tried to reach out and even became more aggressive in expanding his HEART program. “In equity of the incumbent, Yap need not pay Calipusan off, because with or without Calipusan on the road, the incumbent congressman has the heart of his constituents,” clarified VRS.

VRS also revealed that it was also geographically impossible for the payoff negotiation to take place.

“Yap was in Taiwan during the Christmas break, while Calipusan was contemplating back home,” announced VRS. “Before the Christmas break, Calipusan’s supporters never showed a sign of melting down. The next scene was Yap coming home after Christmas to give a eulogy for the late Rep. Erico Aumentado and prior to his return, Calipusan already made up his mind. The time and geographical factors showed a negotiation was impossible to take place, aside from the fact that Yap doesn’t need it.”

“Besides, Yap was never known of going the easy way in dealing with things. In fact, he had often been misunderstood for being idealistic,” said VRS.

“If Calipusan was a victim, maybe he was but not of his partymates. He was a victim of some political scalawags who seemed to have assured him that his withdrawal could be invalidated once they would create a scenario. This scalawag in Bohol politics thought Yap would let go of his supporters once the opponent backs out and that could be a good timing to work for the invalidation of Calipusan’s withdrawal. Uh-oh! This is the biggest bluff in Bohol politics,” VRS concluded.

Now you know. Thankfully, VRS said adieu and promised to share more juicy items. Next time.

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