Sturdy as a tree

A tree that looks at God all day

And lifts her leafy arms to pray;

A tree that may in summer wear

A nest of robins in her hair…

I’m not sure if Ormoc City Mayor Richard “Goma” Gomez had Joyce Kilmer’s poem Trees in mind (or if he had ever read it) when last April 28 he decided to mark his and wife Leyte Fourth District Rep. Lucy Torres’ 22nd wedding anniversary by planting a Dita Tree near their home in Ormoc City, along with their unica hija Juliana. The tree stands as a symbol of one of showbiz’s sturdiest marriages, untarnished neither by controversy nor by nasty gossip.

Goma posted a tribute to Lucy on his Instagram, “It is an evergreen, just like my love for you. Thanks for being my guiding light.”

Ormoc City Mayor Richard ‘Goma’ Gomez and his wife Leyte Fourth District Rep. Lucy Torres marked their 22nd wedding anniversary last Tuesday.

After the tree-planting, Goma told Conversations, “We just had a simple merienda with Lucy’s parents and siblings until sunset. We had a few laughs here and there. It was a wonderful afternoon. In fact, I told Lucy that it was one of the best celebrations we’ve ever had in our 22 years of celebrating anniversaries. Then, we had a very short blessing ceremony officiated by two priests whose chapel is just nearby.”

How have things been in Ormoc City since the lockdown?

“Honestly, nakakalungkot because Ormoc was the new boom city in Eastern Visayas. At least three hotels would have opened this year to meet our MICE demand. Then, suddenly, hinto lahat. However, totoo rin pala ‘yung ‘calamities bring out the best in us.’ It warms the heart to see Ormocanons help each other. It’s been almost two months, but the outpouring of generosity and cooperation from locals has been amazing.”

Dyan ba kayo inabutan ng lockdown sa Ormoc?

“Yes, I was here. As soon as Pres. Duterte announced a GCQ (General Community Quarantine) in Metro Manila, I decided to do something more drastic in an effort to keep the people of Ormoc safe. I ordered a border lockdown.”

Heard that Lucy nag-quarantine as soon as she arrived from Manila?

“Yes. She arrived on March 13, the very day I announced the border closure. She said that the last two weeks before the session adjourned were very busy, with meetings left and right, and she might have been exposed. So even without any symptoms, she went on a self-imposed home quarantine. She was worried for her parents because both Daddy Manoling and Mommy Julie are seniors.”

Ormoc is COVID-free, right? How did you manage it?

“As I answer this (night of Wednesday, April 29), yes, COVID-19-free pa ang Ormoc. We are really praying it stays this way, and that is what worries me now, na may order ang IATF to lift some restrictions. I think it helped a lot that we closed our borders early. And we were strict, earning the ire of our neighbors. Binabanatan kami sa social media but now, they are probably realizing tama kami because they even did border control, eventually.”

Congrats pala; read the news that you gave each family in Ormoc one sack of rice without listing-listing. How else are you taking care of residents (what’s the population?), strict social distancing and wearing masks and curfew, etc.?

“Yes, we just simplified ‘yung one house, one sack of rice distribution, basta may bahay, bigyan ng isa. Mag-share na lang sila kung marami silang pamilya living in the house. We distributed around 63,000 sacks. Ormoc has a population of around 215,000 according to the 2015 census. We are also already imposing strict social distancing and have made the wearing of masks mandatory. May curfew rin kami. We are just strict in implementing our regulations. The police has caught more than 100 curfew violators already, masakit sa bulsa sa mga nahuli dahil P1,000 ‘yon. But that is the way it should be. It has to hurt a bit so they are more careful about following rules.”

What’s your daily routine (always with a mask and other protective gear)? And what about at home with Lucy and Juliana, how is your daily routine?

“You know me, masunurin ako sa batas and I lead by example. Of course, I wear a mask. Since the lockdown, my schedule hasn’t been so hectic. My day starts early, around six in the morning. I check my phone for reports, touch base with key people to get urgent matters going, then check my backyard garden and farm. Then, I cook kung anong gusto ko for breakfast. Usually kasi, Lucy and Juliana are asleep pa, so I eat with the gardeners, the house staff. I like eating na may kasama.

“Then, at around 8:30, I go to the office, go about my many meetings and sign papers. I usually have lunch at the office with my staff and whoever among the councilors happens to be in my office during the lunch hour. Then, if there are no other official matters to tend to, I go around and inspect the borders, talk with people. Or, sometimes, I go straight to a mountain barangay with a terrific view. It is our special little place. Oftentimes, Lucy and Juliana have a picnic on the grass, on a woven mat. I always like to see the positive in everything. At least in this time of COVID-19, we get to be together and spend quality time together with Juliana.”

How do you take care of your health (diet, vitamins, sleep, exercise, etc.)?

“I try to keep healthy, especially sa panahong ito ng COVID-19 na dapat in tiptop shape ka. I try to eat healthy food. Favorite ko in the morning is omelet with lots of malunggay that I pick from my garden. Lunch and dinner, I cut down on carbs, and I take vitamins, too. Isa lang naman ang pagkain na I find irresistible — ang Ormoc lechon — ang sarap talaga. I love it with just plain rice and maanghang na suka. For exercise, I walk, and Juliana and I would do fencing.

Richard and Lucy with Juliana: No plan yet of having another child?

“Lucy is my own medicine woman. She is into natural remedies and she is forever making me drink this potion, that brew. Just herbs and usual stuff like garlic and ginger and turmeric, lemon and honey. Plus, steam inhalation. Mainly preventive measures. She says since I am a frontliner, I have to take extra care.”

How do you think the post-lockdown days would be like?

“This COVID-19 situation won’t leave us in a month or two. Long term ito. There will be a new normal, obviously. Maraming changes na mangyayari sa lifestyle natin. It’s going to entail a lot of adjustments. Sa social distancing pa lang, it’s almost unimaginable that the very same people you hugged, shook hands with in the past, hindi mo na pwedeng lapitan. There’s our educational system. What’s going to happen to young people aged 20 and below? They are not allowed to go out of the house. For how long? How about their schooling? The days ahead will be challenging. But mankind will adapt. We will thrive.”

(For more updates, photos and videos, visit www.philstar.com/funfare or follow me on Instagram @therealrickylo.)