Ryan Ponce Pacpaco
November 17
STORY #1 “YOLANDA”
HOUSE independent bloc leader and Leyte Rep. Ferdinand Martin
Romualdez yesterday thanked anew his colleagues led by Speaker
Feliciano “Sonny” Belmonte Jr. and the employees of the House of
Representatives for their immediate relief operations and financial
assistance last year to help the survivors of super typhoon Yolanda.
Romualdez, who was the guest speaker during Monday’s flag-raising
ceremony, recalled the kindness of officials and employees of the
House of Representatives.
“I express my heartfelt gratitude for everything that you have done
and extended, and continue to perform and extend, to help our
constituents who were devastated by super typhoon Yolanda,” Romualdez
told the crowd.
“Naalala ko ang agaran ninyong pag-organisa ng relief operations para
sa mga kababayan naming nasalanta ni Yolanda. Dahil sa inyo, hindi
kami nawalan ng pag-asa. Bagkus kayo ang naging inspirasyon upang lalo
pang paigtingin ang pagsagip at pagtulong sa aking mga kababayan.
Magmula kay Speaker Sonny Belmonte at mga kapwa ko mambabatas, kay
Secretary
General Marlyn Yap at sa lahat ng ating mga kasamahan – kapamilya man,
kapuso o kapatid — dito sa Mababang Kapulungan ng Kongreso,
maraming-maraming, salamat po,” he said.
“Your kindness has gone a long, long way. The determination and hope
that you have kept burning in their hearts are seeing them through in
their journey to the prosperous and peaceful future we all aspire
for,” said Romualdez.
House officials and employees belatedly greeted Romualdez who
celebrated his 51st birthday last Friday.
The House opposition leader also expressed gratitude to the House of
Representatives’ secretariat for inviting him in the monthly
flag-raising ceremony yesterday.
“Thank you for the privilege of joining all of you today (Monday) in
honoring our flag. It’s not everyday that one gets this chance of
paying tribute to the symbol of our noble race,” he stressed.
Romualdez also took the opportunity in thanking Yolanda survivors for
their resiliency and all those who helped especially the international
donors.
“So join me in extending our salute to Yolanda’s victims. Let us also
extend our deepest gratitude to our countrymen for their sacrifices,
kindness and continued dedication to the recovery and rehabilitation
of the victims,” said Romualdez.
“Including our friends in the international community who wasted no
time in sending aid and their experts right after Yolanda’s fury to
jumpstart relief efforts,” he said.
Super typhoon Yolanda affected 1.5 million families of whom 918,261
were outright displaced. Government official figures ware placed at
6,300 deaths and 1,061 missing aside from 28,689 injured.(RPP)