Yolanda fatalities “put to rest”

TACLOBAN CITY, Philippines – Thousands of Taclobanons who perished, but remained unidentified to this day, during the Yolanda wrath, were “put to rest” at their final resting place at the Tacloban Holy Cross Memorial Cemetery in Barangay Basper.

Mayor Alfred Romualdez led the Tacloban City General Services Office workforce in planting 3,000 crosses at the mass grave site of the cemetery in Basper in honor of the Tacloban victims of Yolanda and to have a permanent place where bereaved families could go to.

The white crosses on top of the mass grave marked as a place where families, relatives and friends who lost their love ones to super typhoon Yolanda could go to and offer their prayers, flowers and candles.

City Assistant Administrator Ildebrando Bernadas, also the designated head of the City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office, said the processed bodies at the mass grave were placed in body bags and arranged side by side with one-foot distance from each other.

“We lay to rest our brothers and sisters, as we commemorate the 1st anniversary of Yolanda on November 8 at the Holy Cross Memorial cemetery. A solemn memorial services will be offered for all the departed souls. Let’s be one to remember them,” Mayor Alfred said after the planting of the crosses.

To highlight the November 8 commemorative event, memorial services and a Mass will be officiated by Palo Archbishop John Du and concelebrated by the priests of 13 Tacloban parishes, with the blessing of the mass grave, candle lighting and offering of flowers.

Executive committee chairperson for the Yolanda 1st anniversary commemoration, Councilor Cristina Romualdez, wife of the mayor, declared the importance of unity, prayers and love among Taclobanons.

“We pray as one for our brothers and sisters who passed away at the time when Yolanda lambasted our city,” said Cristina, citing international, national and local people who have joined in the commemorative activities.

Cristina also announced that the song, Dear World, composed by Mark D. and sang by Kuh Ledesma and daughter Isabella, as a message of thanksgiving to all those who helped Tacloban, Leyte province and Eastern Visayas, will be internationally launched on You-Tube this November 8.

“It’s our way of thanking the whole world, through music, for the care and love they shared during the times of our trials,” said the councilor.

In paying respects to those who died from Yolanda’s wrath, Mayor Alfred and Cristina will be joined Leyte 1st District Representative Ferdinand Martin Romualdez and wife Yedda, the City Hall department heads and employees, and members of international and local non-government organizations and socio-civic groups.

The Yolanda anniversary rites will kick off at 7:30 a.m. with a Commemorative Walk, led by the city government, simultaneous with the blaring of sirens, honking of horns from vehicles and ringing of church bells. Participants will also stop to offer prayers for all those who died and thank God for all those who extended helped in making the city rise up from the devastation.

There will also be Yolanda exhibit at the City Hall grounds, a video showing on “Tacloban-before, during and after Yolanda” at the lobby, and a candle-lighting memorial ceremony along major streets in the city, among other activities.

“Let’s be in one in remembering our loved ones in prayers,” said Mayor Alfred. Contributed by Gay B. Gaspay/TISAT