MARIBOJOC. - It looks like the province of Bohol's bid to turnaround from earthquake devastation to economic recovery and massive rehabilitation would largely depend on the “gold and steel” of its big brother, the United States of America. Bohol Gov. Edgar Chatto who in jest hinted that “how can the province go wrong” when it has His Excellency Philip S. Goldberg, United States ambassador to the Philippines, and Ms. Gloria Steele, country representative of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) to rely on. The governor, who expressed his thanks in behalf of the Boholanos to the USAID, must be referring to the unwavering efforts of U. S. officials, in the persons of ambassador Goldberg and Ms. Steele, who expressed deep concern over the recovery of Bohol from the rubbles and pains of the calamity.

Ambassador Goldberg, who succeeded then ambassador to the Philippines Thomas Harry, who also made an official visit here earlier, breezed into town Thursday (Dec. 12 2013) to see for himself the devastation of the earthquake. Two days (Dec. 9-10) earlier, USAID official Greg Beck, deputy assistant administrator for Asia Bureau of USAID Washington, spent two days here to conduct the first-hand post-earthquake assessment on the extent of damage of the tremor. He was also accompanied by Steele and other Filipinos who are US embassy officials in Manila. He made his presence felt at this town's elementary schools by personally distributing school bags full of school supplies and teaching materials for for school children teachers, respectively, who, along with school and town officials led Mayor Leoncio Evasco and Vice-Mayor Fructuoso Redulla, warmly welcomed him and party.

The envoy also experienced first-hand the traditional kissing of hands by the school children, to show respect of the elders, before they (school kids) received the goodies. In his short message, Goldberg quoted US President Barack Obama as saying that “when U.S. fiends need help, the U. S. will be there.” He added that “I can assure that we'll be here for recovery of your school.” This town, like eight others, is badly devastated by the Oct. 15 magnitude 7.2 earthquake, where most of its school facilities and buildings, especially the day care centers, were razed to the ground literally. He was all impressed with what he described as “spirit and resiliency” of the Boholanos to rise up again from the devastation. The U.S. is here not only for “short term but also long term” to help spur the development like tourism industry that “put people to work,” he said.

The USAID is instrumental in a lot of assistance, either technical and financial and environmental protection, to Bohol over the years. This town's Mayor Leoncio Evasco and his Vice-Mayor Fructuoso Redulla welcomed the envoy past one in the afternoon at this town central elementary school. The ambassador and party took their lunch at the Governor's mansion where they're welcomed, as matter of protocol, by the governor after they arrived at the city airport part ten in the morning. Then the party proceeded to this town. At the governor's mansion, the ambassador was welcomed not only by the governor himself but also by his wife, Pureza, who is also the vice-mayor of Balilihan, the governor's hometown, and provincial board members, heads of offices of the provincial government and businessmen belonging to Bohol Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BCCI) led by Atty. Manny Tumanda. Mr. Goldberg, who went back to Manila at past three in the afternoon, did what Gen. McArthur, a former U.S. army general who fought the World War II had said “I'll be back to Bohol (and) to the beach.” He did not elaborate how come to the beach or he must have learned or heard of Bohol's white beaches and excellent dive sites and other natural come-ons in tourism of Bohol. (Ric V. Obedencio)