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“An Bakwit”: Alangalang revives the courageous journey of its ancestors

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’BAKWIT.’ The people of Alangalang held a reenactment of their ancestors’ relocation from their old settlement to its present day location on Nov.7. The event was held as the town marked its 142 founding anniversary. (ROEL T. AMAZONA)
’BAKWIT.’ The people of Alangalang held a reenactment of their ancestors’ relocation from their old settlement to its present day location on Nov.7. The event was held as the town marked its 142 founding anniversary.
(ROEL T. AMAZONA)

ALANGALANG, Leyte– On a sunlit afternoon of November 7, the streets of this town came alive with a vibrant journey into the past as townspeople, students, and officials gathered to witness “An Bakwit,” a reenactment of the historic relocation of the municipality from its old settlement in Buquid (now Barangay Cavite) to its present town proper.

Once held in the early hours of November 8, the reenactment was moved to the afternoon to allow more residents, especially the younger generation, to witness the tribute to their ancestors.

“We want the people of Alangalang, especially our youth, to truly appreciate our history,” said Mayor Lovell Ann Uy-Castro. “This is a way for them to understand the sacrifices and courage of those who came before us.”

The event doubled as a friendly competition, with participants from local government offices, national agencies, schools, barangays, and private organizations donning period attire. Each group paraded from Barangay Cavite to the town proper, recreating the historic evacuation complete with props and carefully staged storylines.

The original settlement of Alangalang, nestled near the Mainit River, was prone to severe flooding, putting lives, livelihoods, and the community’s survival at constant risk. Driven by necessity and resilience, the residents moved to higher ground, forming the town proper that stands today.

Through “An Bakwit,” Alangalang not only honors its 142nd founding anniversary but also keeps alive the courage, unity, and perseverance of its forebears—a reminder that the past shapes the identity and spirit of the present community.

(ROEL T. AMAZONA)

Provincial statistics committee (PSC) Northern Samar bags 5th PSA quiz bee regional championship

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TACLOBAN CITY– James Karl B. Calipes, representing the provincial statistics committee (PSC) of Northern Samar, was awarded the regional champion. Calipes, a certified public accountant, works at the Northern Samar Electric Cooperative (Norsamelco) main office in Bobon, Northern Samar.

The second-place winner was Norberto E. Milla of Visayas State University (VSU) Baybay City, representing the Regional Statistics Committee VIII (RSC – 8). Assistant Professor Rovinson D. Gaganao of Eastern Samar State University (ESSU) – Main Campus, representing PSC Eastern Samar, garnered third place.

Other contestants who vied for the regional championship were: FO1 Kia Joanna A. Merwa (PSC Biliran), John Ray D. Ylanan (PSC Leyte), Christopher J. Llegado
(PSC Samar), and Edil Balagon (PSC Southern Leyte). Contestants were nominated by their respective PSCs and RSC member-agencies.

The board of judges was composed of Regional Director Wilma A. Perante of PSA – RSSO 8, Chief Statistical Specialist Mae R. Almonte, and Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Tacloban Branch Regional Head Victorio III Tingcang, Jr.

The PSA Quiz Bee aims to: (1) promote awareness and appreciation of the importance of statistics; (2) highlight the mandates of PSA and the recent results of its censuses and surveys; and (3) familiarize participants with the concepts and definitions adopted in the generation of official statistics, Civil Registration Services, and the National Identification System.

The PSA Quiz Bee was conducted as part of the 36th National Statistics Month celebration. (PR)

United States provides emergency disaster assistance for victims of Typhoon Kalmaegi (Tino), successive storms, and the Cebu earthquake

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MANILA– In the wake of Typhoon Kalmaegi’s (Tino’s) devastation, the United States is augmenting the Philippine-led response efforts. Through the delivery of emergency shelter, logistics services, and safe water and sanitation, the United States is supporting communities hardest hit by the storm, many of which are still recovering from successive storms and the Cebu Earthquake in September.

The United States and the Philippines are not only ironclad allies—we are friends and partners bound by a shared history, common values, and a steadfast commitment to a free and open Indo-Pacific. As millions of Filipinos face the challenges left by these disasters, including the loss of family and loved ones, our rapid response stands as a testament to the depth and resilience of our enduring ties, especially in times of crisis. The United States is committed to supporting Philippine-led efforts, working together to save lives, alleviate suffering, and help communities recover from these disasters. To this end, the United States will provide $1 million in immediate life-saving assistance.

With another severe storm forecast to impact the Philippines in the coming days, U.S. disaster assistance will remain closely coordinated with the Government of the Philippines and local organizations to ensure timely and effective relief for those most in need. (PR)

4 dead, over 141,000 families affected in Eastern Visayas

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YOLANDA MEMORIAL. Remembering the resilience of Tacloban, 12 years after Super Typhoon ‘Yolanda.’ This sacred ground stands as a testament to the lives lost and enduring spirit of a city that continues to heal and rebuild. ( JOEY A. GABIETA)
YOLANDA MEMORIAL. Remembering the resilience of Tacloban, 12 years after Super Typhoon ‘Yolanda.’ This sacred ground stands as a testament to the lives lost and enduring spirit of a city that continues to heal and rebuild. ( JOEY A. GABIETA)

Following Typhoon Tino’s impact

TACLOBAN CITY — At least four people were confirmed dead while more than 141,000 families were affected after Typhoon Tino pounded Eastern Visayas with strong winds and heavy rains early Tuesday, November 4, triggering floods, landslides, and widespread destruction across the region.

The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) reported that Tino affected 499,360 individuals, or 141,423 families, in six provinces and 73 municipalities in Eastern Visayas. Of these, 4,903 families or 16,936 individuals are currently staying in 98 evacuation centers, while 82 families or 312 individuals are temporarily taking shelter with relatives or friends.

The DSWD also recorded 2,892 damaged houses—212 totally destroyed and 2,680 partially damaged. The agency has so far provided P24.8 million worth of humanitarian assistance, including 42,155 family food packs, 124 ready-to-eat meals, and 1,767 non-food items, while P110.7 million worth of relief resources remain on standby.

Among the fatalities were one each from Hilongos and MacArthur, Leyte; and two more in Saint Bernard, Southern Leyte, according to a report from the Police Regional Office 8 (PRO-8).

In Barangay Owak, Hilongos, authorities found an unidentified elderly woman dead along the shoreline on Tuesday morning. The victim, estimated to be between 65 and 70 years old, was believed to have drowned and been carried by strong currents. The Hilongos Municipal Police Station has requested assistance from the Provincial Forensic Unit to identify the woman and determine her exact cause of death.

Meanwhile, in Barangay Romualdez, MacArthur, a 78-year-old man known as alias “Max” died after a macopa tree fell on his nipa hut at the height of the storm around 5:40 a.m.
The two other fatalities were from Saint Bernard, Southern Leyte.

Three people were also reported injured during post-typhoon clearing operations. In Tolosa, a 57-year-old tricycle driver and a 43-year-old farmer sustained minor wounds while removing fallen debris, while in La Paz, a 13-year-old girl suffered a hand laceration after accidentally hitting a galvanized iron sheet while helping clear banana trees.

DSWD Regional Director Grace Subong has personally visited the affected areas, particularly in Southern Leyte, which was placed under a state of calamity on Thursday, November 6, due to the extensive damage brought by Tino. Assessment and validation of damages and affected families are still ongoing in coordination with local government units.

 

Tacloban Remembers: 12 years after ‘Yolanda’, a city that still honors its fallen and rises with hope

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REMEMBERING YOLANDA. Taclobanons are to commemorate the 12th year anniversary of the onslaught of Super Typhoon ‘Yolanda’ that killed over 2,200 people in the city alone. Commemorative programs, led by City Mayor Alfred Romualdez, are to be held as part of the anniversary this Saturday, Nov. 8. (MAYOR ALFRED ROMUALDEZ FILE PHOTO)
REMEMBERING YOLANDA. Taclobanons are to commemorate the 12th year anniversary of the onslaught of Super Typhoon ‘Yolanda’ that killed over 2,200 people in the city alone. Commemorative programs, led by City Mayor Alfred Romualdez, are to be held as part of the anniversary this Saturday, Nov. 8.
(MAYOR ALFRED ROMUALDEZ FILE PHOTO)

TACLOBAN CITY — Twelve years after Super Typhoon ‘Yolanda’ (international name: Haiyan) unleashed its fury on Tacloban City, the memories of that fateful morning on November 8, 2013, remain deeply etched in the hearts of its people.

Led by Mayor Alfred Romualdez, Taclobanons will once again gather this Saturday, November 8, to remember the thousands of lives lost and the enduring spirit of survival that defines the city today.

The day’s commemorative activities will begin at 8 a.m. at the Holy Cross Memorial Garden in Barangay Basper, where a mass grave was established for more than 2,200 victims, including children, who perished when storm surges swallowed communities in the city.

A Holy Mass and blessing of the site will be offered, followed by the lighting of candles and the offering of flowers by families and loved ones who continue to grieve and remember.
In the afternoon, at around 4:30 p.m., another program will take place at the Yolanda Memorial Marker inside the Tacloban City Convention Center (Astrodome) compound—once a refuge for thousands of displaced residents during and after the storm. The site, now a solemn reminder of both loss and resilience, served as a temporary shelter for families whose homes were destroyed in the disaster’s aftermath.

As dusk falls, church bells will toll across the city to signal the candle-lighting ceremony, a symbolic gesture of unity and remembrance that will illuminate Tacloban’s streets and homes.

Commemorations began a day earlier, on Friday, November 7, with a requiem Mass at the Anibong Shipwreck Memorial, where the ill-fated M/V Eva Jocelyn—a commercial vessel carried inland by the storm surge—remains lodged onshore. The ship, which crashed into several homes, stands as a haunting relic of the immense power of Yolanda and the lives it claimed.

Tacloban, dubbed ‘ground zero’ of Yolanda, became a global symbol of both tragedy and hope. The massive destruction it suffered drew an unprecedented wave of international aid—from world governments, humanitarian groups, and even celebrities who visited to extend their support.

Two years later, in 2015, the city welcomed Pope Francis, who personally visited Tacloban and the nearby town of Palo to express his solidarity with the survivors and offer prayers for the victims.

This year’s remembrance comes as the city once again braces for a new weather threat—Typhoon Uwan (international name: Fung-wong), projected to intensify into a super typhoon. For Taclobanons, however, the lessons of Yolanda have fortified their resolve: to prepare, to protect, and to persevere.

Twelve years on, the scars of Yolanda remain visible—but so does the unwavering spirit of a city that refuses to forget, and refuses to fall.

(JOEY A. GABIETA)

Tingog, Rep. Romualdez delivers relief aid to typhoon-hit Homonhon Island in Eastern Samar

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ASSISTANCE. Leyte Rep. Martin Romualdez and Tingog party-list group extended assistance to typhoon victims in Guiuan, Eastern Samar, particularly on the historic island of Homonhon. (TINGOG PARTY-LIST PHOTO)
ASSISTANCE. Leyte Rep. Martin Romualdez and Tingog party-list group extended assistance to typhoon victims in Guiuan, Eastern Samar, particularly on the historic island of Homonhon. (TINGOG PARTY-LIST PHOTO)

TACLOBAN CITY — The Tingog partylist and the Leyte 1st district Congressional Office of former House Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez turned over relief assistance to the local government of Guiuan, Eastern Samar on Thursday, November 6, 2025, for residents of Homonhon Island, one of the areas hardest hit by Typhoon Tino.

Guiuan was among the municipalities severely affected by the typhoon, with around 30 percent of houses on the islands of Homonhon and Suluan reported destroyed by strong winds and storm surges.

As part of the ongoing relief operations of Rep. Romualdez and Tingog partylist, representatives from their offices delivered 700 kilos of rice, seven boxes of instant noodles, seven boxes of instant coffee, and seven boxes of canned sardines to affected families through the Guiuan local government unit.

On Homonhon Island, seven barangays were reported to have suffered total destruction — namely Canawayon, Cagusuan, Casuguran, Pagbabangnan, Bitaungan, Habag, and Inapulangan.

Speaker Romualdez and Tingog partylist assured residents that they will continue to distribute relief assistance across Eastern Visayas, one of the first regions struck by Typhoon Tino, to help ease the hardship of families who lost their homes and livelihoods.

(JOEY A. GABIETA)

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