By Celeste Anna R. Formoso
CORON, PALAWAN, Nov. 7 (PNA) -– On Saturday, municipal government officials of Coron and various organizations will pay exceptional tribute to the resiliency of residents here and will recognize all Filipino and foreign donors, that helped in relief and rehabilitation efforts a year after super typhoon Yolanda’s(international name Haiyan) serious devastation in the town’s 23 barangays.
“In just a few weeks, we have risen. The very fast recovery can be attributed to our people’s cooperation and immediate support from outside of Coron. In the local government, we were hands-on. We slept for just four hours a day to make sure all efforts in the relief and rehabilitation phases will be in order and effective,” Mayor Clara Reyes in a statement through Coron’s FB page said.
In the aftermath of Yolanda, the lady mayor was hailed as one of the most hard-working and diligent mayors in all cities, towns, and provinces that Yolanda seriously affected on November 8, 2013.
Days before Yolanda, Reyes already ordered the preparation of relief goods and personally advised coastal residents to evacuate.
“That’s the reason why we had a few casualties,” according to Dr. Samuel Madamba II, the local disaster risk reduction manager.
Vice Mayor Jim Gerald Pe, who is the lead coordinator for the commemoration program, said the theme of the event is “Tindeg! – Coron’s Stay of Courage, Hope, Unity and Resilience a Year After Yolanda.”
”Tindeg” is a Cuyunon word for “tayo” in Filipino, and “stand up” in English, which the Coronians displayed in the Yolanda aftermath.
The vice mayor explained that remembering the day the super typhoon caused havoc in Coron is not celebrating what sadness and grief it actually did in the lives of the people and the whole municipality, but celebrating the residents’ unshaking faith in God amidst the chaos which led to speedy recovery.
Saturday, Pe said, will be filled with reflections; serious thoughts about what transpired a year after, and what compelled municipal government officials and residents of Coron to work hand-in-hand to instantly pull through and mend from the natural disaster.
He added that November 8 for the people of Coron will forever be a reality check that disaster preparedness or risk reduction management is a must because nobody knows when incidents can happen.
It will also be an event that will hark them back to the fact that having strong faith in God is never wrong all the time.
The Philippine Red Cross (PRC) is organizing a photo exhibit at the municipal plaza through the assistance of the Mayor’s Office, Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office, Municipal Information Office, with the cooperation of International Labor Organization, CordAid, PHILSSA and TESDA.
“Viewing booths will be installed. Videos during the typhoon, and radio and television interviews will be replayed to flashback the events that happened on that fateful day of super typhoon Yolanda’s onslaught,” says information officer Lyle B. Coruña.
There will be short games at the plaza, the statement said, to make the spirit of resilience, hope and cheerfulness instilled in the minds of the people especially among the youth.
The Calamianes Association of Tourism Establishments (CATE) will spearhead the candlelight walk from Saint Augustine Cathedral to Lualhati Park’s bay view at Coron Bay Development Program reclamation area.
“Since our fire department and environmental officers discouraged flying of sky lanterns, we will float candles at Coron bay,” according to businessman Michael Sadhwani, a CATE officer.
The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) declared November 8 as a National Day of Prayer to mark the first anniversary of super typhoon Yolanda. Churches around the country will simultaneously ring their bells at 6 p.m. on Saturday to mark the first anniversary of Yolanda.
In Coron, the ringing of Saint Augustine church’s bell will be followed by an inter-faith prayer during a program at Lualhati Park. Partner-organizations will be given a chance to give short messages to assure Coronians that unity and cooperation will continue until the coming years.
“We hope that the experiences we have gone through will work in our favor. We are now going to implement programs through the help of the provincial government, NGOs and the national government so that in case another tragedy strikes, sana naman wala na, we can avoid unnecessary loss of lives and great damage to properties,” says Reyes.
Coron, a scenic first class municipality in Palawan, comprising the eastern half of Busuanga Island, was among the municipalities in the Philippines that suffered the most from Yolanda.
After November 8 last year, it was isolated for a few days, with all transportation systems put off by the devastation. The only airport it has in nearby Busuanga was destroyed, delaying the immediate delivery of relief supplies from outside that Reyes appealed for.
Around 14,000 residents had lost their homes, and in dire need of food and water supply, as well as medicine.
But never allowing themselves to be completely ruined by the natural calamity’s damage, the LGU officials, the residents, and even the tourists, who were trapped in Coron, helped one another rise from Yolanda. (PNA)