'Salamat sa Diyos'

'Salamat sa Diyos' 

"Our prayers should be for blessings in general, for God knows best what is good for us."  SOCRATES

By Alex P. Vidal

DAO, Capiz -- Moving away languidly with the help of a bamboo cane in duck-walk, Esparanza Gardoce, 89, attributed the arrival of relief items composed of rice, canned goods, noodles and bottled water to the Divine Providence.

"Salamat sa Diyos makaka-on na ang mga apo ko (Thank God my grandchildren will have something to eat now)," hissed the diminutive Gardoce of Brgy. Duyoc, Dao, Capiz.
"Diyos namon nga makagagahum salamat gid oh Ginoo. Dali na wala taho to sa balay (Our most powerful God thank you, Lord. C'mon let's go home now nobody's watching our house)," gushed Lolita Capapas, 87, putting her arm on neighbor Gardoce's shoulders.

HOME

They walked home together teeming with excitement and exuberance over the food stuffs that could last for two to three days. Dao Mayor Joselito "Bobo" Escutin personally supervised the distribution of relief goods for 631 families aided by ABS-CBN Iloilo and Iloilo Cyber Cockers Club, Inc headed by Ray Rico in a joint project dubbed "Build A Shelter Project For Typhoon Yolanda Victims."

Twenty three other families whose houses were totally washed out when super-typhoon Yolanda struck on November 8 last year in Brgy. Duyoc were given G.I. sheets.
Myrna Venancio, 44, a single parent and a laundrywoman, who got 8 pieces of G.I. sheets, said she will start to rebuild her totally damaged house for her four children aged 18, 17, 11, and 5. 
Daniel Lacheca, 46, a driver, and wife Elsa, 44, a laundrywoman, said they will rebuild their house if they have additional materials. 

DUMP TRUCKS

The team, composed of two DPWHS dump trucks, brought 200 G.I. sheets. Escutin and his father, former Mayor Ernesto, continued the distribution of relief goods in Brgy. Malonoy where  335 families were benefited.
With a population of 31,911 composed of 20 barangays, Dao, a fourth class municipality in the second district of Capiz, was among the towns in the province badly hit by Yolanda. All the 20 multi-purpose gyms in 20 barangays were totally destroyed, said Escutin. 

"We are here because our group (Iloilo Cyber Cockers Club, Inc.) is not only for cockfighting but also for social service, and this project is part of our civic projects and care for those who are in need," said Rico, village chief of Blk 22, NHA Mandurriao, Iloilo City.