Hundreds gather, locals walk for hours to attend first mass at deadly 'bridge'
Children (from left) Zayca, 6, Vivirlyn, 10, Zedric, 12,
Zesangril, 8, and their older sister Vivina, 13,
(not in photo) are orphaned by the Igbaras tragedy.
Their mother Evangeline was among those found
dead while their father Victor is still missing.
Sixty year-old Remedios Efondo began her day last Friday earlier than usual. She heard the previous night over the radio that a mass will be held by the bank of Tangyan River, the very site where 22 townmates lost their lives last week, 19 others still missing and feared dead.
It was to be the first mass ever in the area on that First Friday of this month. First time too since the "overflow bridge" was built some twenty years now.
Her hut by Barangay Tigbanaba, Igbaras, Iloilo is an hour and a half of walk through the rugged trail of the mountain villages but she was determined nonetheless.
With a bunch of flowers picked on her way, Efondo made it on time as she silently chose her spot at the very edge of the "overflow bridge," link of eleven villages to mainland of Igbaras. Same "bridge" that spelled death to 22 mourners and unaccounted others in the past.
"Paghidaet yara sa imo... paghidaet yara sa imo... (Peace be with you... Peace be with you)," she took her time during the peace offering while tapping the shoulder of a grieving town mate. "She lost her mother," she told this writer while pointing to the woman. Asked if she was related to any of the victims, Efondo said no but added, "Dya ako para magpangamuyo para sa ila kalag. Damo na ang nadula nga kabuhi diri sa taytay. Pasalamat ako nga halin pa sadto nga naga-eskwela ako bisan gabaha nakatabok ako iya. (I am here to pray for their souls. Many lives have been lost in this bridge. I am grateful that in the many years I have passed here even if it was overflowing, I have managed to cross it safely)."
As an added offer, she opened her coin purse and got out a single peso.
"I don't have much to spare," she explained meekly as she resumed with her intent prayers.
Efondo was among the thousand who showed up to pray with the grieving families of the 22 confirmed dead victims, 19 missing and the grateful 25 survivors and their families.
Retrieval operations were put to a halt as volunteer rescuers attended the mass alongside uniformed police. The mass celebrated by two of the town's parish priests heard the plea addressed to the government, "Please build us a bridge." It then heard the account of survivor Aguinaldo Esmediana, 44, who recalled seeing her mother holding on to a fallen tree branch, pleading that he help her. Both survived their horrifying ordeal.
Not a similar fate to 73 year-old Concepcion Embalsado whose eldest daughter Remedios Esquilla openly wailed and called for continued retrieval operations. Embalsado was among the list of the missing victims along with her brother Alfredo Ebanag, nephew Ruel Epalan and grandchildren 9 year-old Vincent. Seven year-old Vienne Caryl Epalan's body was among those first retrieved.
"Please do not stop searching. Please help us get our mother back," she repeatedly asked. Later she added she would settle with any evidence of her mother, "bisan bayo niya lang (even if it is only her dress)."
Same anguish from other families like Magdalena Embiado who lost her daughter Evangeline and son-in-law Victor. Eva's body was already found while Victor's remain missing. The couple left behind five children aged 12 to 6 years old, the youngest half-blind.
"Indi ko gid ni pagpabay-an mga apo ko. (I will take care of my granchildren)," Magdalena said in between tears. She brought with her the five children at the mass.
Fr. Francisco Nicolasora also took note of one casualty Remedios Ecijo, 68, who carried in her pocket a plastic of holy host supposedly to be used in the mass in their barangay yesterday, Sunday.
The priest said he even had a conversation with Ecijo before they left the church that fateful day.
Unfortunately, given the minimal resources of the local government and lack of logistical support of the volunteer groups, the retrieval operations ceased over the weekend.
Meantime, an appeal was issued by First District Board Member Macario Napulan to locals living within the area of Tangyan River.
"Please stay away for now... stay away from the river," Napulan asked amidst official tally of nineteen missing and feared dead victims of last Monday's tragedy.
A doctor by profession, Napulan said with the bodies yet to be recovered, it is highly possible that those maybe decomposing in the river.
His worries, he explained, was on the possible ill-effects the decomposing bodies will bring.