Boholanos: Thank you Cebu

BOHOL PROVINCE, Philippines —They, too, were affected by the earthquake. But seeing the plight of the Boholanos, the Cebuanos did not think twice and launched relief operations for their neighbors who suffered more than them.

“Ang pinakadaghan og (The biggest) support namo kay ang mga (we got is that from the) Cebuanos gyud. Cebu is Bohol’s big sister. I cannot quantify the support of the Cebuanos, basta kay grabe gyud ang suporta sa mga (what I can say is we received tremendous support from the) Cebuanos. We would like to thank all the Cebuanos for all your support,” said Father Val Pinlac, Tagbilaran Cathedral parish priest, in an interview with The FREEMAN.

Pinlac said the Cebuanos went out of their comfort zones just to help the Boholanos.

“I really do not know how we will rebuild but with the help of everyone, especially the Cebuanos, we can move on,” he said.

Residents, echoing Pinlac’s words, acknowledged the overwhelming assistance they received from Cebu.

“Ang Cebu dako kaayo og tabang namo diri labi na tubig nga gikinahanglan gyud namo diri (Cebu was a big help to us, especially in providing us with water, which we badly need),” said Rere Marimon of Barangay San Vicente, Maribojoc. 

“Ang karon nga trahedya ang kagutom, kahadlok ug kauhaw ang nagpasulabi. Pasalamat gyud mi sa Ginoo nga buhi mi. Pasalamat sad mi sa mga taga Cebu sa ilang tabang dinhi sa (Because of this tragedy, we are hungry, afraid, thirsty. But we thank God we are still alive. We thank those from Cebu for their help here in) Maribojoc,” also said Susana Echavez, 72.

More Boholanos, though, are still in great need of assistance, particularly on food and water.

With several groups converging in Bohol to hand relief assistance, a Cebu-based non-government organization said a more coordinated effort must be adopted.

This way, all affected areas, not just the hard-hit places, could be reached as soon as possible.

 â€œThere are places, not just the heavily affected, that also need help and should be helped.  The effect of the earthquake is widespread there is a need for us who are helping to gather together so we can reach all,” said Ma. Theresa Catipay of the Ramon Aboitiz Foundation Inc. (RAFI).

She said that for example, well-meaning groups flock to Sagbayan, which is 100 percent affected by the earthquake; but there is also the need to go to Buenavista, even though only two of its barangays were heavily hit, as the people there are equally in need of food and water.

Based on field assessment, she said there are places where two, three institutions are there giving aid while there is none yet in far-flung and small areas.

“If we could gather together and agree, we could decide that, for example, this group goes there, this one here, while I go that way,” Catipay added.

She said towns like Sierra Bollones, Mabini, and Alicia must be reached also and assessed in terms of the need of the victims there.

RAFI has already sent relief packs worth P1.3 million to Bohol and deployed its employees there last Thursday; it would send today another batch worth P1.2 million.

RAFI has already distributed food and water in Clarin, Sagbayan, Catigbian, Maribojoc, Antiquera, Buenavista, Calape, Loon, and Tubigon.  The second batch of relief packs would be sent to other areas of Bohol.

It is also accepting donations in its office at 35 Lopez Jaena St.,Parian, Cebu City, or at the Casa Gorordo Museum right across the street. 

Those donating cash could go to any Unionbank of the Philippines branches and deposit the money under the name of the foundation through its Peso Account No. 0027-8000-3279; or its Dollar Account No. 1327-8000-0852.

Yesterday, a group of 60 doctors and volunteers led by Cebuana businesswoman and philanthropist Mariquita Salimbangon-Yeung were among the Cebuanos who came to Bohol to help.

They were scheduled to conduct a medical mission in Barangay Anislag, Maribojoc town, one of the most affected areas of Bohol.

Aside from the medical mission, the group also brought truckloads of assorted goods for the earthquake victims.

Dr. Antonio Quiteves, president of the Philippine Pediatric Society of the Philippines-Central Visayas Chapter who led the doctors in Yeung’s group, said they came to Bohol to help as their way of thanking God that Cebu did not suffer much.

“Wala man kaayo ta  (We were not so) na-damaged by the earthquake, so we have to help the Boholanos by offering our services,”  he said.

Not just Filipinos saw the suffering of the people of Bohol.

Norwegian Harry Wad, a former journalist in Norway, also shared his blessings by donating P50,000 worth of medicines for Bohol earthquake victims.

Wad, 49, coursed his donation through the Police Community Relations (PCR) of the Cebu City Police Office last Saturday.

PCR Chief Enrique Belciña said they will give Wad’s donation, along with PCR’s relief goods, to a foundation with a drop off center at Fuente Osmeña today for shipment to Bohol.

Wad, a pensioner who has been donating goods to calamity victims in Visayas particularly Cebu, said he sees to it where he can use his money best.

“It’s nice to give, but a lot of people need medicine. (You) can live for 14 days without food and only water. But if you have health problems, you die if you are not treated immediately,” he said.

 Wad, who has a 14-year-old half-Filipina daughter, has been living in Cebu for four years now.

The medicines he bought, which were mostly for kids, include pain killers, for diarrhea and fever, anti-asthma, anti-tetanus, and for breathing problems, among others.

Pinlac said that with the extent of devastation Bohol experienced, including 80 percent of its churches left in ruins, faith has kept them going by holding masses outside.—(FREEMAN)