Chatto thanks Dumaguete for help

DUMAGUETE  CITY  , Philippines  â€” Over a month after a 7.2-magnitude earthquake rocked Central Visayas on October 15, Bohol Governor Edgar Chatto expressed his thanks to this city for the latter's P1-million donation to the quake-stricken province.

In a Nov. 20 letter sent to the Dumaguete City government, Chatto, in behalf of the people of Bohol, said he was elated and thankful of the financial assistance this city extended.

"We are most privileged and deeply touched by your kind help, sympathy and concern on the sad plight of our province and the Boholanos. We wish to thank you from the bottom of our hearts for your benevolent and generous assistance that has greatly enlivened our morale in spirit in this difficult time," Chatto wrote.

He added that Dumaguete's financial assistance inspired Boholanos to unite and work harder to recover all that they lost and to rebuild Bohol as soon as possible "and rise again from the ruins of that most devastating calamity."

Rona Namocatcat, president of Silliman University's student government, who hails from Bohol, said: "Our love for our island, Bohol, moved us to action to help our fellow Boholanos recover from the tragedy. In that, we are very grateful to the many people who may not be Boholanos but who have been moved also and gave their donations wholeheartedly. We are very grateful to have such an inspiring governor who really showed us how to be strong and united as a people, whether we are in Bohol or in Dumaguete or in any other place in the world."

Val Amiel Vestil, a sophomore college student in SU, said he was amazed of the huge donation Dumaguete gave to Bohol. "It just goes to show that, no matter how big or small a city is, no matter how small or big the amount is, any act of kindness is still an act that will go a long, long way. This is the true Filipino spirit," he told The Freeman.  (FREEMAN)