MAKILALA, North Cotabato — Suspended North Cotabato Governor Nancy Catamco re-assumed office Thursday, November 21, and started her day with a ritual with tribal leaders from quake-hit areas and later broke bread with the evacuees at the Santos land evacuation camp.
The “pamaas” performed at the break of dawn also included prayers performed by tribesmen invoking the aid for divine intervention to surmount the gargantuan challenge after the province was devastated by a series of earthquakes. During the ritual, a chicken was offered to symbolize their resolve ‘to bring to an end’ on any bloody occurrence in the province.
It was at dawn when Catamco arrived in the area to join the tribal leaders in the quake-hit town to perform the ‘Pamaas”, a tribal ritual to call Apo (God) for guidance and prayer for the earthquake victims. After the ritual, Catamco partook of the boiled eggs and chicken adobo shared by her constituents who were delighted by her presence as their duly elected governor.
The Santos site serves as the temporary shelter for evacuees from barangays Cabilao, Rodero, Sto. Niño, Luayon, garsika, Old Bulatukan, Sta. Felomina, Buenavida and poblacion where most of the occupants are the indigenous peoples. Catamco is a true-blooded Manobo.
The governor just ended her 90-day suspension by the Office of the Ombudsman over a graft case which involved a family business which took place prior her election to office. During her visit at the evacuation area, she took time to see the conditions of families while children and supportive constituents also took pleasure in sharing light moments on their experiences with the governor.
“Julieta Mongcal, an evacuee, said “First time nga naay daku nga opisyal naghatag og dakung time sa amo, kasagaran, moanhi dali ra kayo, dili gani mi makadoul ug dili sab makig-estorya sa amo (First time that a top official spent time for us, as they usually come here so quick, they never come to us, they never talk to us to listen to our voice).
Catamco also spent time listening to a dialogue that was held right after community breakfast. Marisa Lumayo, former barangay chairman of Barangay Luayon, narrated how she and her village constituents have survived the ordeals when the quakes hit their villages.
“Natulog mi sa yuta sa sulod na sa 20 ka adlaw ug dili kini lalim (We’ve been sleeping on the ground for the past 20 days, it was not easy,” Lumayo narrated. She also added that everybody misses the comfort of their homes and much as they would like to go home, there are no houses that still await them.
They also lamented that their villages have been declared as ‘no build zones’ while words regarding relocation site has yet to reach them. “Kapoy na mi diri, gusto na mi mouli (We are tired here, we want to go home),” is a desperate reiteration by the evacuees.
Old Bulatukan Tribal chieftain Lascuña Enoc told Catamco that they have been getting mixed signals from the LGU regarding support. He also commented that a number of evacuees already went back to their villages, however, he also expressed confusion and said, “wala mi kabalo kung kinsa mi motuo, mao ako karon, akong gi-ingnan akong sakop nga kung naay papel nga ipakita nga mouli na mi, (mouli) kay naglibog na gyud mi (We don’t know whom to believe, I told my people we will go home as soon as a paper or document will be shown to us that we can go home. We are lost)”.
After the Santos Land visit, Catamco proceeded to visit the evacuees at Makilala Central Elementary School and later boarded a helicopter for an aerial inspection along with Maj. General Jose C. Faustino, the commander of the 10th Infantry Battalion of the Philippine Army. Upon reaching the Capitol ground in Amas at noon time, Cotamco was also warmly welcomed by employees at the provincial capitol.
Catamco in her statement said that the provincial government will work closely with all relevant agencies to hasten rehabilitation efforts and to address those issues and concerns she gathered together with all ground assessment reports submitted for immediate action. She also urged all sectors to help rebuild North Cotabato, stressing that rebuilding efforts need the support of all sectors, to include among others the business, religious, professionals, agencies both government and non-government and well-meaning individuals.
Catamco’s optimism to re-build the Province from the ravage of earthquakes also marked the people’s resilience and determination to find solution to all challenges they presently cope with. For indeed, “huge problems also entail huge solutions,” Cotamco stressed. “Let’s not be wary of hope but instead unite ourselves and work together,” she added.
Catamco said that she is now positioning the initiatives she mentioned as “adopt a family – build a home; adopt a school- build the future; and, adopt a community build a strong nation.” She concluded as saying that this will form part of the proposed comprehensive rehabilitation effort of her administration. -Editha Z. Caduaya and Edwin O. Fernandez
