Even away from their homes, evacuees at the athletes’ quarters of the Manuel Torres Sports Center in Bago City were still able to joyfully celebrate the Holiday season.
Thanks to the care and concern given by government personnel who celebrated Christmas and New Year with the evacuees instead of spending more time with their respective families.
Forty-three-year-old Bienvinido Oplas from Barangay Ilijan, Bago City said that spending Christmas and New Year in the evacuation center was disheartening but necessary to ensure the safety of his family members, especially amid Kanlaon Volcano’s continuing unrest.
Oplas expressed his overwhelming gratitude to all social workers, barangay health workers, evacuation camp personnel, police, and other government personnel from the city and national governments who have been tirelessly working to guarantee their safety and well-being in the camps.
“Nagapasalamat ko sa nagbulig sa amon kag wala man nagpabaya sa amon diri – Bago City Government, DSWD, CSWD, BHW, kag police para lang sa safety namon diri. Ga-sakripisyo sang Christmas nga upod kami diri. Ga-sakripisyo sang New Year nga upod kami nga wala sila sa ila panimalay. Pagpa-abot diri sang amon Christmas gift, pagkaon nga sobra sobra, McDo, Jollibee… Labi na sa tanan, nagapasalamat ko nga sa amon pag-evacuate, pag-abot namon diri sa evacuation center, wala gani kami naglaom nga may dangpan kami nga tulugan nga hamtang ka gid sa imo pagtulog. Tapos ang mga indi mo naexpect nga mga pagkaon kay nag-evacuate ka, nahimo sang city government of Bago,” Oplas said.
(We are grateful for the assistance of the Bago City Government, DSWD, CSWD, BHW, and the police for our security. They sacrificed and spent their Christmas and New Year with us instead in their homes. We also received gifts and so much food such as McDonalds, Jollibee. I am thankful that we have a decent place to stay in here at the evacuation center. The local government also made sure that we have decent food.)
Genelyn Medel from the same village in Bago City also expressed her appreciation to all government offices and agencies that never cease to provide crucial aid to evacuees.
“Madamo gid nga salamat sa City (government) of Bago nga wala gid kami nila ginpabay-an. Gintodo support kami nila sa time nga ang Kanlaon naglupok.”
(Thank you very much to the City Government of Bago for providing our needs. They have given their all-out support since Kanlaon erupted.)
Especially since her husband recently suffered from a stroke, Genelyn is thankful that medical personnel at the camps are looking after her husband.
Bienvinido, Genelyn, and their families are only some of the at least a hundred residents of Barangay Ilijan in Bago City who are currently taking shelter at the athletes’ quarters of the Manuel Torres Sports Center in Bago City, following the explosive eruption of Kanlaon Volcano on Dec. 9.
They may have spent their Christmas and New Year at the evacuation center, but choosing to stay at the camp ensures their safety from the imminent threat of Kanlaon Volcano which continues to show signs of restiveness.
Gratitude goes out to all government personnel who rendered their service and donors who extended help – big or small – the warm Holiday celebrations were still felt by the evacuees at the camps. (AGP/BPS/PIA Negros Occidental)
