by Robbie Pangilinan
The residents of Tacloban commemorated the widespread destruction and thousands of deaths brought about by super typhoon Yolanda to this city four years ago.
“We want the memorial to be meaningful and heartfelt,” says Tacloban City Mayor Cristina Gonzales-Romualdez, whose husband Alfred Romualdez was the City Mayor when Yolanda struck in November 2013.
The commemoration started off with thanksgiving masses and wreath-laying ceremonies in Tacloban and Palo on November 7. In Tacloban, the MV Eva Jocelyn Anibong landmark was highlighted, a vessel that was lost as it anchored at the Anibong community during Yolanda.
“The city government converted MV Jocelyn into a tourist destination. It is now the Anibong Memorial Landmark that will serve as a reminder to future generations how the city recovered from the ruins,” said City Administrator Atty. Irene Chiu.
November 8 started with a commemorative early morning walk from the Tacloban City Hall to the convention center, followed by two thanksgiving masses at the Astrodome and the Holy Cross Memorial Basper mass grave officiated by Palo Archbishop John Du.
Mayor Romualdez and husband led the lighting of 7,000 candles along the roads as thousands line the city streets lighting candles in memory of their loved ones who died in the typhoon. Foreign dignitaries and representatives of humanitarian organizations that helped rebuild the city attended the commemoration.
Another wreath was laid and offered at a spiral structure of the Tacloban City Convention Center which was turned into an evacuation center for 8,000 people during the typhoon’s aftermath.
The day culminated with the offering of flowers and candles on a raft for those who died in the waters of Cancabato Bay at Balyuan port, and the lighting and release of hundreds of sky lanterns at Balyuan grounds.
“I was touched with the blessing of the three mass graves in the town, followed by the release of white doves. It was so meaningful to me,” said the beautiful Ms. Philippines candidate Patrick Asturias, one of Tacloban’s pride.
