In what is now widely
known worldwide as the Guinsaugon mudslide disaster, the day will be
marked with a commemorative walk from the town proper to the site
starting at about eight o’clock in the morning, to be followed by a
Holy Mass, a brief program, and a tree planting as the day’s
culminating act.
According to
provincial Tourism Officer Nedgar Garvez, the above-cited series
of activity has been taken care of by the officials of the town, while
on the part of the province it takes charge of a live band concert in
the evening of February 16 at the New Guinsaugon location in Barangay
Magbagacay.
Then, by the early
morning of February 17 at around 5:30, provincial officials led by
Gov. Damian Mercado will have a commemorative caravan from Maasin City
to Barangay Guinsaugon, but by reaching the junction at Barangay
Bolod-bolod they will join the long walk to the site.
For maximum
participation of this caravan, Gov. Mercado will be sending letters to
provincial and national officials with vehicles to join the activity,
said Garvez.
The Holy Mass at the
site will be at around ten in the morning.
In the draft program a
copy of which was provided to PIA, some guests from the United States
Marine Corps were invited to attend, including the British Ambassador,
to impart messages of recollection and inspiration.
Rep. Roger Mercado,
Gov. Mercado, and Saint Bernard Mayor Rico Rentuza will likewise share
their thoughts during the program.
This will be
followed by a short PowerPoint presentation on the rehabilitation
updates, a sharing of testimonies by three survivors, and a cultural
presentation from orphaned students.
