TACLOBAN CITY- Relatives of those who perished during the onslaught of supertyphoon Yolanda earlier buried in a mass grave in Basper paid their respects in a proposed memorial garden inside a private cemetery during the All Saints and All Souls Days observance.
There are 2,273 corpses buried inside the proposed memorial park at Holy Cross Cemetery in Barngay Tigbao. Mayor Alfred S. Romualdez led in the planting of crosses last November 1. The white crosses, placed on top of the plots, marks as a place where families, relatives and friends who lost their loved ones to Yolanda on Nov.8, 2013 could go to and offer their prayers, flowers and candles. City Assistant Administrator and City Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office designated head Idelbrando Bernadas said that the processed bodies at the mass grave site were placed in body bags and arranged side by side with a 1 ft. distance from one body to the other.
We lay to rest our brothers and sisters, as we commemorate its 1st year anniversary this Nov. 8, 2014 at Barangay Tigbao Holy Cross Memorial cemetery, a solemn memorial services will be offered for all departed souls. Let’s be in one to remember them, Mayor Alfred said in an interview, we put them to rest, the departed souls victimized by super typhoon Yolanda (international name Haiyan). To highlight the Nov.8 commemorative event, memorial services offering includes a high mass officiated by Palo Archbishop John Du, concelebrated by the parish priest of 13 Tacloban parishes, blessing of the mass grave, candle lighting and offering of flowers.
Tacloban City Councilor and chair for Haiyan first anniversary commemoratiion, Councilor Cristina G. Romualdez, on the other hand, during the 1st Commemorative Anniversary Press Conference held Nov. 4, 2014 at K Patisserie Tacloban stressed the importance of unity, prayers and love among fellow Taclobanon “magkaisa tayo magdasal para sa ating mga kapatid na namatay nung kasagsagan ng Yolanda” (we pray as one for our brothers and sisters who passed away at the time when Yolanda lambasted our city), she said. International, national and Taclobanons will be one in remembering physically & spiritually those who parted unexpectedly brought by Yolanda.
In expressing their Thanksgiving to all those who helped Tacloban, our province the region and the entire country, a composed song by Mark D. entitled “Dear World” sang by Kuh Ledesma & daughter Isabella will be internationally launched come Nov. 8 through You Tube. It’s our way of thanking the whole wide world through music for the care and love they shared during the times of our trials, the lady councillor said.
In paying respect to those who passed away during Yolanda’s wrath, Mayor Alfred will be joined his wife Councilor Cristina G. Romualdez, Leyte 1st district Rep. Ferdinand Martin Romualdez and wife Yedda Romualdez, the Department heads, city employees, International Non-Government Organizations (INGOs), Non-Government Organizations (NGOs) and Socio-civic organizations.
The first year Yolanda commemorative event on Nov. 8 will kick off with a Yolanda Commemorative Walk led by the city government of Tacloban, at exactly 7:30am. Sirens, horns of cars & automobiles and ringing of church bells will be heard. Participants of the commemorative walk will stop and offer a prayers for all those who died of the storm and thank GOD for all those who extended helped Tacloban rise up again.
The Memorial services follows at the Tacloban Holy Cross Memorial cemetery at Barangay Basper, then INGOs, NGOS and socio-civic organizations exhibit at the City hall grounds, video showing on “Tacloban-before, during, after Yolanda” at the City Hall lobby and the candle light memorial ceremony in major city streets by One Tacloban and many more.
Let’s be in one in remembering our loved ones in prayers, the father of the city said. (GAY GASPAY)
