Panagbenga inspiration to Yolanda- affected towns, says Rep. Romualdez

By Redjie Cawis

BAGUIO CITY -- A lawmaker from the typhoon- stricken town of Tacloban in Leyte said the Panagbenga festival here was inspiration for recovery of the Yolanda-affected communities.

 Leyte 1st District Rep. Ferdinand Martin Romualdez said Baguio Flower Festival which was created to bring back Baguio to its feet following the 1990 earthquake, was an inspiration for the Yolanda affected towns in Leyte as they slowly recover from the effects of the devastating typhoon in 2013.

Romuladez, who was a guest during Panagbenga  grand street dance and float parade last week, said he admired activities of the month- long festival, and what Panagbenga has done for the city of Baguio in the past 20 years.

 “Ang Panagbenga ang naging simbolo at inspirasyon ng pagbangon ng Baguio mula sa lindol at ngayon wala nang trace ng earthquake,” said Romualdez in an interview.

 “Ang sigla at umunlad talaga ang Baguio sa tulong ng Panagbenga,” he added.

 The July 20, 1990  7.8 magnitude earthquake  devastated   Baguio City  toppling down  buildings  and killing many people.

 Through the efforts of the government and the private sector and the optimism of the people of Baguio, they showed the resiliency of Filipinos and proved that even a tragic earthquake or any other disaster that affected the city, it  stands up and even be better, Romuladez  noted.

 He said that just like Baguio City, Tacloban and the other towns in Leyte will also rise up from the situation. “Maski gaano ka tindi ng pinsala ang mangyari, kagayang Baguio, babangon din angTacloban.”

Meanwhile, Romualdez thanked the city of Baguio, the province of Benguet and the rest of the Cordillera for all the support they have given  to the  province of  Leyte particularly Tacloban City.

Cordillerans were among the first to respond to the needs of the people in Leyte when typhoon Yolanda hit central Visayas in 2013.

 Romualdez said he was optimistic despite slow recovery of the province, areas in the Visayas will also stand up and be like Baguio which will recover and be an inspiration to other disaster stricken areas.