By Helen Castaño | 03:18 PM October 15, 2022
Sorrow and reflection swept Bohol on Saturday, Oct. 15, 2022, as the province marked nine years since a massive earthquake devastated the province.
Residents observed a moment of silence at 8:12 a.m., exactly nice years after the huge quake shook the province. Church bells and sirens rang out for 33 seconds.
The families of the survivors also visited cemeteries to remember those who had lost their lives.
The Somoro and Empinado families in Sagbayan town visited Bayong Falls in Barangay Katipunan in Sagbayan to offer flowers and prayers.
Somoro’s siblings Jonalyn, 13 and Joellene, 11 and their friends-Jess Marvin Empinado, 10, Meme Jane Empinado, 9, Reynaldo Sipsip, 15, were swimming below the falls when the earthquake struck that morning.
The children were never seen again.
Many of the survivors felt the absence of their family members.
In Tubigon town, survivor Salome Israel remembered Saturday as a thanksgiving for her second life.
The quake killed at least 222 people, displaced thousands and toppled centuries-old churches and infrastructure.
In a statement, Bohol Gov. Aris Aumentado said that Saturday was a day of prayer and thanksgiving– to remember in prayer those who perished and with gratitude all who contributed to the recovery.
“Sa atong paghandom sa ika-siyam ka tuig human gitay-og ang Probinsya sa Bohol sa makusog nga 7.2 magnitude nga linog, magsilbi unta kining higayon aron hinumdumon ang mga kinabuhi nga nakalas, mga kabalayan ug istruktura nga naguba, ug mga kinabuhi nga nabag-o tungod sa maong linog,” said Aumentado in a statement.
“Nagapasalamat kita sa Labawng Makagagahum sa Iyang pag-uban kanato human sa kalamidad nga atong nahiaguman, apan magpadayon gihapon ta sa atong pagtinabangay aron magpadayon ang atong pagbangon gikan sa maong linog,” he said.