TACLOBAN CITY, Leyte
– All roads led to St. Bernard, Southern Leyte Saturday morning,
where people from far and near came to Ground Zero, to remember the
Guinsaugon Landslide Tragedy which happened a year ago covering to
oblivion the entire barangay and claiming the lives of thousands of
residents, young and old alike.
Those who came from
all walks of life, government officials, relatives of those who
perished during the tragedy, survivors, volunteers during the rescue
operations, members of the rescue groups, members of the clergy,
religious sisters, and others who have been touched by the tragedy and
wish to be with everybody in remembering, not the pains and turmoil,
but the mystery of bringing together people from all over the world in
order to help in the spirit of brotherhood and unity and the glory of
working together so that the survivors and the relatives will be able
to bounce back with hope after the tragedy.
Bishop Precioso D.
Cantillas during his homily said that the world has learned many
lessons from the Guisaugon Landslide Tragedy. Those who have forgotten
that there is a Creator remembered, those who have more learned to
share, those who have been left with nothing learned to appreciate
even the smallest help that were given them.
He said people must
never forget Guinsaugon and the lessons learned. He said that God
allows such tragedy to happen to remind those who are forgetting, but
in His Mercy, He allows people to bounce back, this time as wiser
people.
Department of Social
Welfare and Development Secretary Esperanza Cabral said President
Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo sends her good wishes to the survivors and the
relatives of those who perished. The President would have been just as
glad to see that the survivors and their relatives are now smiling,
very far when the President came right after the tragedy.
Secretary Cabral added
that the President is also glad that a new Guinsaugon community has
risen through the able leadership of Governor Rosette Lerias, Mayor
Maria Lim and the other government officials and the generous
benefactors both here and abroad. She said that the beautiful new
community, with the help coming from all over, is now a complete
community.
Moreover, Secretary
Cabral smilingly said that the President would be very happy to know
that the survivors, the widows and the widowers found strength and
love from the rubbles of the tragedy and are now forming new families
as they have tied the knots during the Mass Wedding held on Valentines
Day.
