TUBIGON town walks for Sendong victims
The participants of “Walk for a Cause: for Sendong Victims” (l-r) Rtn. Mr. Abad Montuya (back portion), Mun. Agriculturist Yollanda Labella, Holy Cross Academy Principal and Rotary Club President-Elect Rtn. Mrs. Delia Lasco, Mrs. Cristy Montuya, Anyag sa Tubigon 2011, Lorie Geisha Cabrera, Municipal Vice Mayor Virgilio "Billy" C. Fortich, Hospital Admin. Victoria Rtn. Ceniza-Heyrana, Cahayag Brgy. Captain Hon. Rtn. Peluche Bergado, PO2 Renee Castro-Astronomo, PO1 Marianne Pangan-Rabaca, Mrs. Phoebe Valer from the Office of the Local Civil Registrar, and (below) Mrs Lucy Omictin from the Municipal Social Welfare and Development Office.
By: Reyna Omictin
The Rotary Club of Tubigon together with the Local Government Unit of Tubigon holds “Walk for a Cause: for Sendong victims” last December 30 at St. Isidore Parish Open Stage.
As we could recall, tropical storm Sendong (international name: Washi) struck the country, causing massive floods in many cities in the country including Cagayan de Oro City, Iligan and Dumaguete City last December 17, “[killing] more than 1,000 people, displaced thousands of families, and damaged P1.3-billion worth of infrastructure and crops,” according to a report from the Inquirer.
The phenomenon shook up the country as it hasn’t fully recovered yet from the tragic “Ondoy” occurrence. Search and rescue operations were conducted and disaster relief was performed and appeals for help were being carried out.
In response to the immediate call for disaster relief from Rotary International, to help Sendong victims in various provinces in the country, the Rotary Club (RC) Tubigon together with LGU-Tubigon and came up with a walk-a-thon activity to raise funds for the families devastated by the tropical storm.
Dressed in their sports apparel, participants held on to their umbrellas during the registration due to the downpour overnight causing a short delay to the activity. Nevertheless, the activity started at 6am despite the bad weather.
The walk was preceded by a “HATAW” dance exercise led by Mr. April Jay Banquil, a faculty member of Holy Cross Academy, to “energize” their bodies before proceeding to the walk all around the vicinity of the town.
Mrs. Grace M. Campo, RC President of Tubigon, shared her insight regarding the activity, saying, “we take pride on capturing the essence of community effort, as we were able to collect about P6, 000.00 of the amount deposited from households, tricycle drivers, market vendors, street vendors and bystanders who had second thoughts of joining because of the rain overnight that only seemed to [trickle] down at 6:00am,”.
All in all, the activity produced Php 28, 000.00 “already net of the cost of sound system, tarpaulin and honorarium for the drummers,” from the Php 30, 528.00 total amount gained, Campo added.
LGU-Tubigon also played their part during the event as they were in one with RC Tubigon in their advocacy. Municipal Department and Section heads, staff, employees, and the Sangguniang Bayan headed by Municipal Vice Mayor Virgilio C. Fortich, and the Association of Barangay Captains (ABC) were present during the occasion, despite the fact that the same date of the occasion was declared as a Non-Working Holiday, in commemoration of Rizal Day.
In relation to the spirit of giving, the LGU was also able to donate 95 sacks and 15 boxes of used clothing and other relief goods to the victims in Cagayan de Oro City, via ABS-CBN Cebu, through the generosity of Lite Shipping Corp. for the free shipment of the cargo.
January 18, 2012 | Featured, News and Updates
