Cebu group to spearhead “candle lighting day”

CEBU, Philippines - A support group for grieving parents will be spearheading the 60th World-Wide Candle Lighting on December 9 at the Plaza Independencia in Cebu City.

HUGS, an organization that reaches out to grieving parents, was started in October 2009 by its president Col. Anthony “Tony” Obenza. Obenza and his wife formed the group after they lost their youngest child in September 2009 and felt how hard it is to lose a child.

Obenza said that they have nine founding couples and now on their third year, they already have 14 couples who are organic members.

“It is so hard nga mamatyan tag anak and it will not only be the parents who will grieve but also the siblings. So we also encourage our children to also join with us. The whole family comes with us,” said Obenza during the press conference yesterday.

The group offers free service to the public and conducts group counseling with their resident psychologist to help them.

During the World-Wide Candle Lighting last year, they were able to attract a total of 130 families and this year they are expecting more participants.

Renante Pique, Ella Joy’s father, shared his experience with HUGS yesterday in a press conference. He is thankful for the support given by the group to his family.

“Dili gyud lalim mamatyan ug anak. Mapasalamaton kaayo ko nga naabot ang HUGS sa akong kinabuhi. Sa dihang gihaya pa akong anak, abi naku ug ako ra ang lalaki nga mohilak kay lisud man gyud pugngan ang sakit. Pero sa pag-reach out sa HUGS naku, didto naku nakita nga manghilak gyud diay kay mas maayo mang ipagawas ang sakit. Wa ko mag-expect nga padayon gihapon ang ilang pagsuporta naku hangtud karun,” said Pique. (It’s not easy losing a child. I’m thankful to HUGS for helping me and supporting me until now. During the wake of my child, I thought I was the only man who cries but with HUGS’ help I found that it’s okay to cry.)

During the World Wide Candle Lighting, which is celebrated every second Sunday of December, there will be orientation for walk-in participants and families as members of the organization approach them and will listen to their stories and sentiments.

“We want to get to know them one by one and somehow help them on how to recover from the grief they felt. Among storyahan, and ipagawas ang ilang mga gibati nga sakit and at the same time orient them on what will happen in the later part for the program proper,” said Obenza. —  JPM (FREEMAN)