In my almost two decades of being a JC (short for Jaycee or member of the Junior Chamber International), last January 31 (Chinese New Year) was my first to be part of the simplest and no-pomp JCI local organization (chapter) induction of officers and turn-over ceremony. What more? It was held in a heavily damaged clubhouse of the LO but in the presence of national president and four area vice-presidents. Adding a color, though, was the lion dance which served as an opening salvo. Further? Typhoon Basyang was expected to make a landfall in Southern Leyte @ 4 o’clock in the afternoon that very day.
This was how the JCI-Tacloban did its annual tradition, a formality required for the bequeathal of the reins of the LO from the outgoing to the incoming president. The event was moreover a joint one with the JCI-Tanauan Pasaka. The crowd of well-wishers was, nonetheless, consisting of not only those belonging to these two LOs but representatives, too, of JCI-Candahug Liberation, JCI-Catbalogan Balud and JCI-Catarman Cocoking, the three other more prominent and very active LOs in Eastern Visayas. Momentous day it was indeed.
Over the customary pleasantries that would never be absent were the valedictory and bequeathal speech of the outgoing president of JCI-Tacloban, Peluchi Jessamine Sinaca and of JCI-Tanauan, Randy Bioco, and the inaugural and acceptance speech of the incoming prexies, (San Miguel, Leyte Mayor) Cheeryl Enrica “Chekay” Letrondo-Esperas and ______ Fiel, respectively. Theirs were all very emotive, especially the talks of Peluchi and Mayor Chekay which mentioned of ending and beginning their respective term with supertyphoon Yolanda’s wrath causing much wreckage over the economic center of Region VIII, the highly-urbanized Tacloban City.
So noteworthy were the remarks of Mayor Chekay revolving on the challenge and opportunity that she gets in leading (for one development year) the LO in a very sluggish condition of Tacloban City and the severely ravaged towns in Leyte caused by sty Yolanda. For her there is no better way to time to really serve the community the JCI than now after sty Yolanda whacked Tacloban City. She felt even blessed to be leading the LO at the time when help from civic groups, like the JCI, is much needed by the society.
Worth mentioning is the speech delivered by JCI-Philippines National President (Assistant Vice-President of Nestle Philippines) JCI Sen. Christine Garcia who expressed her solidarity with the JCI LO members in the Visayas particularly Tacloban, Palo and Tanauan endeavoring much to rebuild the community in whatever means the organization could effectively be of service. She stressed further that she came like a husband (to the LOs) who may always be physically absent but nevertheless care and working hard for the family though from afar.
Bringing along her Executive Committee, NP Christine travelled to Eastern Visayas in so short notice, upon request of JCI-Tacloban through Regional Vice President Clark Cabelin, firstly to induct its new set of officers as well as of JCI-Tanauan, and secondly to have an dialogue (Talakayan) with local JCI members on how the national organization could help in the rebuilding strides of members who are all victims of sty Yolanda before effectively extending assistance to the community.
The four AVPs namely __________ and RVP Clark took their respective turns to shed light on certain hazy relevant issues. The Talakayan, which concluded the national execom’s visit to Tacloban, partly eased the mind of members on this aforementioned topic.
From JCI-Tacloban, inducted with JCI Mem. Chekay were Exec. VP (Tacloban City Councilor) Joms Bagulaya; VP for programs Anna Liza Salinas, for Community Mar Angelo Lim, for Individual Kristine Marie Llamas, for Business Giraldine Ong and for International Abegail Beringuer; Secretary Marilee Gorres; Treasurer Katherine Llamas; Auditor Albert Mulles; PRO Jeff Kenneth Monge; and directors Hazel Panao, Jerwin Torreros, Germerico Tañare, Gloria Clemente, Boyet Claros, Evelyn Eva Jerusalem and Abe Mercado.
Meantime, after long years of attempt, the JCI-Tacloban Circle of Past Presidents was formed and took oath before JCI-Philippines NP Christine. Inducted with the president (who incidentally is yours truly) were EVP Inocencio “Koks” Maderazo Jr, Secretary JCI Sen. Rommel “Brix” Verecio, Treasurer Dionisio Balintong Jr, and Directors Cicero Tootsie Maye, Jaime Lorenzo, Ahlyx Belleza, JCI Sen. Yul Ballesteros, Reynaldo Dacatimbang, Ruben Palomino, Felix Barrion, and Peluchi Sinaca.
Their induction is not just a social gathering, but a formality of bestowing upon each officer the duties and responsibilities appended to each position that they hold, just like how the JCI-Philippines braved the approaching typhoon Basyang on a Chinese New Year’s Day in response to the call for them to be with the members for this significant assembly. Yes, there were promises and pledges, but these are empty words if not coupled with effort to bring them into fruition. This is what Jayceeism partly is: “service to humanity is the best work of life.”
First in recent years: Unfussy JCI LOs turn-over rite
Thank You Generous Filipinos and foreigners of course!
It’s a little over a hundred days of Yolanda’s fury, a super typhoon that wrecked havoc to our communities in Leyte and Samar, that has caused some 6,000 lives lost; hundreds badly hurt and a good number gone, unseen, unfound; thousands of dwellings destroyed with a good number simply washed away. Grief ruled our hearts, a lot of our people aimlessly walking around; with blank faces feeling uncertain what they will do, where they will go, and how to live normal lives again.
Like a magic wand that was waved on air by a Powerful Being, generous people from all over of different nationalities and the United Nation worldwide immediately responded to help. Food, clothes, blankets, tarpaulins, ready-made tents as temporary shelters, and cash dole-outs especially from Tzu Chi, a Taiwan-based Buddhist foundation were distributed. It is easy to say that over a billion dollars have been poured into our shores. The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UN OCHA) has already distributed about $609 million. Other unnamed sources have silently come over to help.
The Philippine national leadership thru President Noynoy Aquino has poured millions for Leyte-Samar and other provinces for Yolanda victims and for rehabilitation of facilities.
Local government units also came to help specially in the clearing and cleaning activities to rid the streets of Tacloban with heaps of smelly garbage. So much garbage has spread all over Tacloban and other towns caused by Yolanda that the clearing is still on-going as of press time. They came, complete with equipment, from Makati, Metro Manila Development Authority, Calbayog, Baybay City and others.
There were other groups, all over, unnamed, unnoticed, unannounced who did their share.
One of these is the JAHs Army, initiated by a young professional who did their share in distributing relief goods to Tacloban’s poor sector. Certainly, there are many others who worked in silence.
Lately we read from the Philippine Daily Inquirer of an agreement inked by Alfonso G. Sy, President of the Federation of the Filiino-Chinese Chamber of Commerce and Industry (FFCCI) and Leyte Governor Leopoldo “Mic” Petilla, for the construction of 500 houses and five school buildings in typhoon ravaged area of Leyte.
From the bottom of their hearts, super typhoon Yolanda victims thank them with their prayers for more blessings from God, and a sincere wish: “May their tribe increase”
Gov. Petilla hails Chinese group for house construction for storm victims
TACLOBAN CITY – Leyte Governor Leopoldo Dominico Petilla welcomes the partnership forged with the Federation of Filipino Chinese Chamber of Commerce and Industry Inc. (FFCCCII) for the construction 500 houses and five barrio schools in Palo town, one of the hardest-hit areas of supertyphoon Yolanda.
“We are thankful that we have the Filipino Chinese Chamber of Commerce and Industry ready to help us. Indeed, even before the typhoon came in November, FCCCI is already our partner in building schools and other similarly important projects in the province of Leyte,” Petilla said.
The governor signed a memorandum of agreement together with FFCCCII president Alfonso Siy in Malacanang with President Benigno Aquino witnessing the signing.
The governor added that it takes years to complete a permanent shelter program for typhoon victims. However, a “ready response from the private sector and foreign organizations, pushes the action even faster and further.”
Under the agreement, 500 houses will be built on a five-hectare lot in Barangay Barayong with a project cost of P40 million.
Five barrio schools with 10 classrooms at a cost of P2 million will also be constructed.
Funding for the projects came from FFCCCII, the FFCCCII Foundation Inc., Federation of Filipino-Chinese Associations of the Philippines, World News Daily, Filipino-Chinese Amity Club, Overseas Chinese Alumni Association of the Philippines, Filipino-Chinese Shin Lian Association, and the Philippine Chinese Chamber of Commerce and Industry Inc.
The area will be called the Filipino-Chinese Friendship Village and is expected to be completed in five months.
FFCCCII also distributed recently more than 50,000 relief packs, providing welding sets, fishing boats, water purifying systems, among other resources, in calamity-hit areas together with six other organizations, it was learned.
Department of Energy Secretary Carlos Jericho Petilla, Department of the Interior and Local Government Secretary Mar Roxas, Palo Mayor Remedios Petilla and FFCCCII chairman emeritus Lucio Tan also witnessed the signing.
By: AHLETTE C. REYES
Students from 2 Leyte towns received kits from Korean groups
TACLOBAN CITY- Over 17,000 students from Yolanda-hit areas of Tanauan and Tolosa were provided with school kits from Korean groups on February 4.
The 17,300 preelementary, elementary and secondary students received the school items from the Gyeonggi provincial office, Korea Food for the Hungry, International and Givers Funds Incorporated.
According to Sang Rok Suh of the Gyeonggi provincial office of education, said that with these towns hardly hit by the super typhoon, students lost all their belongings, to include those they uses for their studies.
The students received back packs with pencil, ball pen, eraser, crayon, art materials, color paper, notebook among others.
The 17,300 students came from 15 schools from Tolosa and 45 schools from Tanuan.
Present during the distribution of the school kits to the students were Leyte schools division superintendent Ronilo Al Firmo, Board Members Gina Merillo and Nicolo Villasin, chairman of the committee on education of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan of Leyte, representing Governor Leopoldo Dominico Petilla.
The mayors of the two town recipients, Erwin Ocana (Tolosa) and Pelagio Tecson (Tanauan) expressed their gratitude for the assistance extended by the groups to their students.
The distribution of school bags by the Korean groups is their way of helping the rebuilding effort of the provincial government.
By: LIZBETH ANN ABELLA
Facility for would-be mothers in Leyte town soon to be completed
TACLOBAN CITY – A structure intended for pregnant mothers who are to deliver their babies is to be completed soon.
Board Member Alan Ang of Leyte’s third district and former mayor of San Isidro town, said that the structure, known as the “waiting home” is now about 85 percent completed.
The “waiting home,” which was donated to the town of San Isidro by the Japanese International Cooperation Agency, aims to help lessen, if not totally prevent, cases of maternal and maternal in the town.
“The idea there is for the pregnant women to stay there (for a week) prior to their delivery date so they could reach the birthing facility immediately when they feel the contraction due to labor pain,” Ang explained.
The facility is located around 40 meters away from the town’s birthing clinic. Those who will use it will not be charged.
The structure, consisting of eight rooms with a kitchen, is said to be a first of its kind in the region, he added.
It cost about P1 million with the local government of San Isidro’s only counterpart was the location.
“If this becomes operational, the cases of maternal and child death in my town will be lessen and we will be assured of the safe delivery of the baby because they will be born in a center that is supervised by medical workers,” Ang said.
By: ROEL T.AMAZONA
Leyte Hospital gets help from Korean soldiers
PALO, Leyte-Soldiers from the Republic of Korea conducted the repair of the Leyte Provincial Hospital which was severely damaged by supertyphoon Yolanda.
And after more than 30 days of work, the hospital is now functioning enough to offer health services to the people, a gesture welcome by chief of hospital Doctor Ophelia Absin.
“They are really a big help,” she said.
The 86 Korean soldiers, led by Colonel Chu Wan Lee, turned over on February 5 the rehabilitated buildings of the LPH.
“Of course, we are happy with the help extended to us by our Korean soldiers and their government. You know, we cannot accomplished this if we just rely on our (provincial) government considering that we are all affected and it will cost huge amount of money,” Absin said.
The Korean soldiers worked for almost a month, to include Saturdays and Sundays, just to finish the repair of the hospital’s out-patient department, laboratory, Ex-ray room, ward’s department and even its canteen.
The soldiers started their work on January 3, 2013 and finished their work by February 5, this year.
The rehabilitation just cost P1.3 million, according to the Lee.
Their Filipino counterparts also joined in the work aside from providing them security, said Brigadier Gen. Rolando Malinao, head of the Task Force Yolanda.
“I was deeply moved by the hospital’s personnel passion to look after the patients despite of the (bad) condition of the hospital,” Lee said.
When they first visited the place on December 30, they were shocked on the condition of the hospital- destroyed and full of debris.
Its patients have to contend with rooms without roofs on their heads.
Major Kwon Doo Young, public relations officer of the Korean troops, said that they were “so concern” with the physical condition of the LPH that instead of helping its patients recover from their ailments, it could only aggravate their health condition and spread of more diseases.
This was the reason why they made the rehabilitation of the LPH as their priority among other public buildings in Palo destroyed by Yolanda, Young said.
Absin said that with the restored LPH, they could now serve better their clients who are not only from the Palo town but from other areas of Leyte and even Samar.
The LPH, which has a 100- bed capacity, closed its operations after it was hit by Yolanda and reopened on November 22, 2013 despite of the damaged condition of the buildings and its facilities.
Leyte Board Member and former governor Mimiette Bagulaya said that the people of Leyte have so much to thank for on the assistance extended by the Korean government.
“This really means a lot for us. They were really a big help,”Bagulaya said.
By: JOEY A. GABIETA