Mayor Uy’s death continues to unite Samar for reforms

By EMY C. BONIFACIO, Samar News.com
June 11, 2011

CATBALOGAN CITY  –  A show of force of not less than 15 thousand supporters of the late Calbayog City Mayor, Dr Reynaldo S. Uy paraded on the city streets of Catbalogan on June 9, 2011. This day marks the 40th day since the treacherous killing of Mayor Uy last April 30 while he was attending the vesper night activities of the Hinabangan town fiesta.

In an earlier invitation, anybody who would be joining the commemoration was required to wear yellow t-shirts and bring anything that must be yellow, representing the party color of the Liberals.

In effect, the yellow color dominated the festive mood of the city streets as yellow ribbons were hang on every corner. Moreover, wrist bands, fans, arm bands, posters, stickers and banners with yellow backgrounds and designs were seen to have signified an all-out support to the public calls for change and reforms in the governance of Samar.

“Pagbabag-o han Samar” (Reforms in Samar) was the theme of the day’s activity.

The peaceful gathering started with a community prayer led by Fr. Joe Calderon. The host Mayor, Hon. Coefredo “Tekwa” Uy, welcomed the crowd. He calls on every Samarnon to hold on. “Walang bibitiw para sa pagbabago ng Samar”, he adds.

The delegations from the twenty four (24) municipalities and two (2) cities represented by its mayors and Sangguniang Bayan representatives were duly recognized by Board Member Charlito Coñejos who emceed the entire proceedings. Only six (6) Municipal Mayors out of the 26 were not around.

Coñejos informed that they have to limit the participants to just ten (10) from each barangay because of the transportation limitations. Thus, he expressed his apologies to those who were not able to make it to Catbalogan. However, he informed that the activity would be widely covered by local radio and television stations.

The messages were delivered by Hon. Janssen Abaratigue, SK Provincial Chairman; Hon. Rogelio Casurao, PCL President; Hon. Renato “Boy” Latorre, LMP Samar Chapter President; Congressman Mel Senen Sarmiento, 1st District of Samar Representative; Atty Wilfredo “Didi” Estorninos, LP Chairman, 2nd District of Samar and Board Members Prudencio Dy, Noel Sermense , Jasper Sumagang and Renato Uy.

As responses to the earlier speeches, Board Member Eunice Babalcon reminded the group regarding Mayor Ining Uy’s noble vision of uniting Samar through a better leadership that would free the Samarnons from the bondage of poverty and deprivation from its basic social services.

On the other hand, Ms. Jessica Rosa “Aika” Uy-Delgado, Uy’s eldest daughter delivered a fiery message lambasting the people behind the treacherous assassination of his father. Jessica challenged the crowd to decide for the future of Samar by considering better alternatives in the coming recall elections.

“An amon kasubo nabalyuan san kalipay san pagkita namon sine nga grupo nga nasuporta san akon daddy. Usa siya nga maupay nga amay san iya mga anak ngan amay san Samar. Kasering nira nga mapupuypoy na nira an hingyap san akon amay para matalwas an kakurian san mga Samareno? Dida sira nagsasala, kay an iya kinabuhi, ginhalad niya para san mga tawo ngan an iya gintikangan, aton igpapadayon,” (Our grief for his loss was overturned by joy by simply seeing the numerous supporters gathered today. He was a good father to us and your presence means that he was a good father and leader to all of you. They must have thought that his death would stop us from dreaming for a better Samar, from delivering the Samarnons out from a lingering corrupt administration and massive poverty. They are wrong, because my father offered his life for us and we will not be stopped from  pursuing what he had started) was the younger Uy’s emotional pronouncements as she proudly informed on the increasing percentage of Samarnons who have already accepted their challenge and decided to take a stand  against the Tan’s administration.

“Are you ready for a change in Samar? Now is the time to get united!” was Aika’s final challenge.

Aika was persuaded by the public not to stop from completely delivering her message despite the rains that started and ended pouring in the entire duration of her speech. She was quoted as saying, “Pati an langit nakikiduyog san aton katitirok kay deri liwat Siya naruruyag san ira ginbuhat kan daddy” (Even the weather sympathized with us in our grief because He has not approved of what they have done to my father). In the same manner, the people remained undisturbed by the rains as they listened to the most awaited speech on the occasion.

Both Delgado and Babalcon were unofficially introduced as the next governor and vice governor of the province of Samar which received an uproar of approval from the audience.

On the other hand, Congressman Mel Senen Sarmineto, the Acting LP Chairman, administered the mass oath taking of the Barangay Council of Leaders for the Liberal Party in Samar on the same occasion.

The activity culminated with the launch of the Piso-piso Para Han Pagbabag-o Han Samar. This was initiated by Aika Uy-Delgado who is the Chairperson of the Dr. Ining Uy Foundation. The foundation aims to continue the medical missions, scholarships and other related programs that would somehow contribute in bringing a change to Samar.

In a related story, the National Chairperson of the Liberal Party, Deputy Speaker Lorenzo “Erin” Tañada presided an organizational meeting for the Liberal Party (provincial) at the Flaming Hat Restaurant. It resulted to the election and the oath-taking of Congressman Mel Senen Sarmiento as the Party Chair; Ms. Jessica Rosa Uy-Delgado - Vice chairman; Atty. Eunice Babalcon - Secretary; Mayor Coefredo T. Uy - Treasurer; Mayor Reynato Latorre - District Chair and Atty Wilfredo Estorninos as the official spokesperson.

Tañada assured the Uy’s camp for an all-out support from the Liberal Party. When asked about the Tans affiliation to the Liberty Party, Tañada replied that the Tans are with the Atienza wing and that the Uy’s group is the duly recognized by the Roxas’s group.

A barangay folk observed the commemoration to be similar to that of Ninoy Aquino where people were gathered on a unified vision. Just like Ninoy, Ining’s death have ignited the passion of every Samarnon to bring back its dignity as a people.