Bohol will rise again!

Need to say more? The 7.2 magnitude earthquake that hit the province last Tuesday damaged infrastructures, pulverized historical monuments, polarized commerce, destroyed livelihoods and killed people.

Photo by Leo P. Udtohan

Hours after the quake, my heart broke when I saw the centuries-old churches destroyed by the killer quake. Oh, very sad! 

The quake was a great equalizer, sparing neither rich nor poor, neither the famous nor ordinary mortals.

Environmentalist Boy Ancog and friends are right that for being good and prayerful people, we are still lucky that:

. . . the calamity did not happen on a Sunday when all churches should have been crowded with churchgoers;

. . . the incident did not happen after 10:00 am, when all the malls should have been opened for jam-packed shoppers;

. . . that day was a non-working holiday where schools should have been full of children and offices and workplaces are full of working people;

. . . that it was daytime and everybody was awake and alert. . .

Truly, it is the nature of Nature to follow its course no matter what it cost . . . but it is God's nature to bring us miracles.

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Earthquake cancels wedding

Bohol is also famous as a wedding destination.  Our old churches give timeless and precious memories for those who want to seal their love in the province.

On July 15, this year, Mikel and Eden Ceballos (nee Descallar) got married at the famous Our Lady of Assumption Church or Dauis Church.

“We chose Dauis because the church itself is timeless. It was a privileged for us to hold our special day in Dauis,” said Mikel.

Joan Jagonos and Benjie Oliva

Three months after, the couple woke up last Tuesday and learned that the Dauis church severely damaged.

“We visited the Church and I cried. The place is very memorable for us where we promised to love each other,” said Eden, who is down-trodden by the tragedy.

The other day, the couple went to Loboc and Maribojoc to give relief goods together with their Globe Telecom family.

Dream weddings don’t happen easily.

It took former Commissioner of the National Youth Commission (NYC) and Department of Agriculture administrative officer Benjie Oliva and his wife Joan Jagonos over a year to prepare for their dream wedding which was supposed to be held yesterday (Oct. 19) at Dauis Church.

What the Oliva couple was not prepared for was a 7.2 magnitude earthquake that would shatter their wedding unforgettable.

“We decided t postpone the wedding considering the damage cost by the earthquake that hit Bohol. The Dauis Church was totally damaged,” said Benjie in an interview while he and Joan are volunteering at the St. Joseph Cathedral for the relief goods.

Mikel and Eden (nee Descallar) Ceballos

“We have no choice, I think it will be awkward to celebrate while there are countless people who are suffering because of the earthquake,” said Joan. “We can celebrate anytime but helping other people in times of need, you cannot postpone it.  You have to help now.”

They held relief operations in the affected areas of Catigbian, Loon and Maribojoc.

Even their honeymoon in Australia, scheduled for a few days after their wedding, was already set. But the couple decided to donate the money for the affected families.

“Joan and I decided that our budget for our honeymoon will be used to our relief operation,” said Benjie.

On the other hand, I heard that actor Cesar Montano is now finalizing a fund-raising concert for the quake victims and survivors.

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