DILG-8 honors unsung heroes of Yolanda

By MYLES JOSEPH E. COLASITO
November 3, 2014

TACLOBAN CITY – The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Region 8 on November 5, 2014 will honor persons who showed uncommon bravery and selfless commitment to others during and after Super typhoon Yolanda (Haiyan) last year.

The Yolanda Heroism Awards will be held at 1:30 PM on November 5, 2014 at the Ritz Tower de Leyte, Tacloban City. According to DILG-8 Regional Director Pedro A. Noval Jr., this seeks to acknowledge people who risked their lives for others and to glorify exemplars of courage and selflessness.

To be recognized for Acts of Valor are security guard Dionesio Bagon, a resident of Palo, Leyte; Christopher Caspe from Magallanes, Tacloban City; Armando Corillo from V&G Subdivision, Tacloban City; Benjoe Mercenes of Taguiktic San Jose, Tacloban City; and Isagani Sabalza of Brgy, Magay, Tanauan, Leyte.

For Acts of Good Samaritan the honorees are Nilda Quiero of Philippine Red Cross, C/insp. Adel Bautista of the Bureau of Fire Protection, and Ranel Repasa from Tanauan, Leyte.

The honorees were screened and validated by DILG and agency partners from the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), Department of Health (DOH), Department of Education (DepEd) and Kapisanan ng mga Brodkaster ng Pilipinas (KBP) Eastern Visayas Chapter.

They were originally nominated by people whom they rescued or who witnessed their deeds, and endorsed by parish priests and municipal/city mayors where the deed happened.

Agency representatives will introduce the honorees, and present the award together with Dir. Noval and UNDP Yolanda Response Team Project Manager Eden P. Garde, who will give the Inspirational Message. Short videos featuring each honoree will also be shown.

DILG-8 plans to open a social media page that will allow others to share similar stories of heroism and sacrifice during Typhoon Yolanda to help inspire more people.