We thank our avid readers who personally conveyed to us how they followed our column including Dr. Abe Lim whom we met last week at Garden Cafe. But in the case of our good friend, Zenaida D. Darunday of Dao district this city, we have to amplify her letter in the Letter to the Editor because that was not only quite inspiring but it merits reading to other readers of this paper too. We tried to become philosophically inclined in last Sunday’s issue as we tended to be theologically incisive in that column. To all our readers out there, we will definitely be inspired as you relay to us your ideas and reactions. You will continue to encourage us to write more and become part of your Sunday life.

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Well, aside from our traumatic experience and our recovery from that killer earthquake, we quietly marked the birthday bash of our only son, Dan Blyke last Oct. 19 and greeted him a belated happy birthday in our column last Sunday. At around 4 o’clock last Sunday afternoon, we have to rush him to the Borja Family Hospital this city, even as the aftershocks continued, because of a very aching appendicitis. Two hours later, Dr. Romualdo B. Rosario had to operate our son. We had the greatest scare in our life during the entire operation as what Dr. Rosario described later as a stormy operation. And to think that Merly was still in Manila. Ma. Christilee and husband Orez, and Ma. Emilee supported us and stayed at the bed side of Dan Blyke through the entire operation.

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It was a double-whammy for us, the earthquake and the appendicitis operation of our only son. But through our prayers and the prayers of our loved ones, we survived and will continue to survive with the recuperation of Dan Blyke. We thank our brothers, Linde including Maymay and Emem, and Jessie and his family, our brothers-in-law Tito Arranchado and son, Mark and Jun Diez for their support. We have also to thank the doctors, nurses and staff of Borja Family Clinic and most especially to Dr. Rosario.

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As every relief operation got full publicity both in the news and in the facebook, these donors does not like to be mentioned in the limelight but we have to credit them for their very generous support to the Boholanos in times of need. The Federation of Filipino Chinese Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Inc. has donated P2 million to the quake victims here. They coursed through their donation to Sec. Mar Roxas of DILG. There was also an additional of P1 million they gave to Rep. Arthur Yap whose father, Domingo Yap, is a vice-president of the association. Meanwhile, the Association of Chinese Evangelical Churches also donated 375 sacks of rice and being broken down in 32 kilos per sack including canned goods and food stuffs for 3,000 quake victims here. The donation was coursed through the DSWD and the Philippine Navy in Manila.

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This is our part in the relief operation of the earthquake victims here instead of just sharing false and misleading information. Those who have not learned the lessons of the earthquake should know the song of Basilyo entitled “Lord, Patawad” which in part mentioned:

“Kinakausap lang Kita pag akoy nangangailangan Ang aking iniisip ay puro pansarili lamang Kapag may mabigat na problema at seryoso Doon ko lamang naalala ang pangalan Mo” It chorused in this way as: “Lord, patawad Pagkat ako’y makasalanan Makasalanang nilalang”

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Despite the fact the Commission on Elections has already postponed the barangay elections here, we have actually seen how the candidates took advantage of the relief operations on the earthquake victims. In one town, the relief goods distributed which included two kilos of rice, one piece of a sardine and a noodle, included the names of the candidates for punong barangay and the kagawads. What a shame! These are the kind of people which should be crucified in the media and not Mayor Jun Evasco of Maribojoc who stood his ground from the politicking of other people. Aside from the P18 million cash donation from Davao City Mayor Rudy Duterte, Evasco should go after for the other relief donors. But upon sensing that he has been the one being politicized, the white-haired mayor stood his ground.

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Finally, to those private endeavors undertaking relief operations, please consider the following, one, a two-kilo rice can hardly supply a family for even one day and number two, don’t give them viands which would require water in cooking because they too need water. In distributing waters to the quake victims, please distribute it nicely. We have seen a video of a truck loaded with mineral waters wherein the persons distributing the water just threw it thereby exposing to danger the victims who wanted to avail of the water. Most importantly, please don’t be give proximity to your own coverage through videos because you wanted to post it in the facebook and other social media, as soon as possible, that you indeed became part of the relief operation. Remember what the Bible said, don’t let your other hand knew what the other is doing especially if it is for the good for others.

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POSTSCRIPT: Well, as we predicted last Sunday, there will still be a holiday tomorrow but our barangay elections in Tagbilaran City and in the towns in Bohol is postponed...We check with the latest anti-pork barrel protest last Friday evening and it is already well on its way to the coffin. The protesters are now reduced to a group of less than 100 participants. We have predicted that it will just die in a natural death. There’s more when we return.