CEBU CITY, PHILIPPINES — For the residents of Barangays Kal-anan and Tapul in Tabogon, Cebu, yesterday was not just the arrival of relief goods, but also the advent of their hope following days of uncertainty and fear caused by the Sept. 30 earthquake that shook northern Cebu.
The Freeman Foundation, the civic arm of The Freeman and Banat News, traveled more than 87 kilometers from Cebu City to conduct a relief distribution for hundreds of quake-affected families in the two barangays of Tabogon.
Tabogon was among the hardest-hit areas when the quake struck, damaging houses and displacing residents who are now struggling to rebuild their lives amid aftershocks and changing weather.
In the situational report released by the Cebu Provincial Government, Tabogon recorded a total of 14,122 affected families from the earthquake. There were 244 individuals reported injured, and five confirmed dead.
A total of 452 relief packs were distributed to households in Barangay Kal-angan, while 404 packs were handed out to residents in Barangay Tapul.
Each pack contained rice, canned goods, noodles, towels, and even clothes — simple items, yet priceless and the most needed, for those who have lost much.
Melandro Mendoza, general manager of The Freeman, personally joined the distribution. He shared that The Freeman Foundation has been serving the public for more than 21 years, often extending aid to reach those in dire need.
“Ngayong may calamity, gusto rin nating makapagbigay ng tulong sa mga apektadong pamilya,” Mendoza said, adding that Tabogon was chosen as the Foundation’s first area of focus because most other relief operations were concentrated in Bogo City, considered the Ground Zero of the earthquake.
“Sinubukan naming mag-reach out sa mga hindi napupuntahan ng relief,” he said.
In Barangay Kal-anan, residents gathered early to welcome the team, grateful that help had reached them despite their town’s distance from the city.
One of them, 76-year-old Eliseo Dungog, who is also the Purok president, could not hold back his emotions as he received the relief pack.
“Akong dako’ng pasalamat sa The Freeman…pasalamat ko nga kinasing-kasing nga nihatod diri sa barangay,” he said.
Dungog shared that the quake left many traumatized, with several residents still afraid to sleep inside their damaged homes.
“Puros jud ‘mi na trauma. Swerte lang jud ‘mi nakagawas sa balay,” he added.
Some of them, he said, have yet to return to work due to financial constraints. “Karon nangatawa lang ‘mi ani pero deep inside, dako jud kaayong problema,” he admitted.
Meanwhile, 67-year-old Helen Berdon said the traumatic memory of that terrifying day remains vivid. She was injured when shards of glass from a window struck her during the quake. “Nasamad ko diri (cheeckbones) kay naigo ko sa bildo,” she recalled.
Their house was heavily damaged, forcing her and her family to seek temporary shelter in a makeshift tent near the elementary school. “Lisod jud kaayo. Maglisod ‘mi og katog kay mahadlok basin mobalik nasad og linog,” Berdon said.
Her voice trembled as she described how she, her children, and grandchildren shared the cramped tent. She said their greatest need now is a permanent home — a place to rebuild their lives, especially with Christmas drawing near.
“Hapit na pasko, pero wa mi kabalo asa mi ani magsugod,” she said while wiping tears from her eyes. Despite their tribulation, Berdon and her neighbors found comfort in knowing they were not forgotten.
The sight of volunteers from The Freeman Foundation carrying relief packs, she said, brought them hope that better days will come.
The relief operation of The Freeman Foundation was made possible through the generosity of several donors and partner institutions, including AppleOne Group, Diamond Suites and Residences, Twinbee Print Ads, the University of the Visayas, Solea Mactan, Philippine Span Asia Carrier Corp., and Barangay Sto. Niño Captain Lourdes Ramirez.
Numerous individuals also extended monetary and in-kind donations, showing that compassion continues to thrive even in difficult times.
As the team prepared to leave, the smiles and waves of gratitude from the residents were a reminder that even the little act of kindness can mean so much to those who have lost nearly everything.
| Written by Jonnavie Villa/RAE, Photos by Aldonelbert Banaynal
