Modern-Day Heroes of Taal

By JESSICA PAG-IWAYAN and JULES VIVAS, Manila Bulletin

After over four decades of dormancy, Taal Volcano started to erupt on Sunday, Jan. 12, forcing thousands of people in the Batangas province to evacuate. In response to the ongoing disaster, more and more people are coming together to help those displaced and affected by this natural catastrophe.

Three such good Samaritans are Rio John Abel, Maximino Alcantara III, both 22, and Darwin “Dudong” Lajara, 26, young men, who in what proved to be an instinct to help, braved the calamity and headed straight to an evacuation center in San Jose, Batangas to deliver some relief goods.

On their way home in the wee hours of the night, however, an accident took their lives. According to a police report, the young men’s car crashed into a trailer truck as they were driving along the national highway in Banaybanay I, San Jose, Batangas, at around 1:30 a.m., Tuesday, Jan. 14. The report tells that the Mitsubishi Lancer driven by Maximo, collided with the parked trailer truck, which was on its way through the gates of a feed mill.

YOUNG HEROES OF TAAL Rio, Darwin, and Maximo finished delivering relief goods to the victims of Taal volcano eruption, and were on their way home when they got into this tragic car accident

Rio and Maximo were proclaimed dead on the spot, while Darwin, suffering physical injuries, was rushed to the nearest hospital, but was pronounced dead the following day, Wednesday, Jan. 15. Merril Patrick Morie Cobarrubias, a close friend of these three heroes, confirmed in a phone interview.

“Napakabuting tao ng tatlong ‘to. Basta alam nilang kaya nila at may posibilidad silang tumulong kahit sa maliit na paraan hindi sila naghe-hesitate (They were really good people. They wouldn’t hesitate to help anyone if they could),” Merril tells The Manila Bulletin.

Meanwhile, Rio’s teacher, Noel Datingaling Arasula, posted a statement on social media, saying, “Mas pinili nya ang magbigay tulong sa mga nangangailangan sa oras ng gabi, sa mga taong naapektuhan dulot ng pagputok ng bulkan kesa manatili sa kanilang bahay. Kahanga-hanga ang iyong ipinakitang kabayanihan anak. (Instead of staying at home, he chose to be of aid to the people in need, in the wee hours of the night. Your courage is truly admirable)”

Their loved ones, friends, and the people they had helped are in mourning. Rio, Maximo, and Darwin and their good deeds will never be forgotten.

Heroes in Action ...

... at the Bayanihan Sa Paraalan 2019 Build in Comval held

Compostela Valley Province--- Bayanihan sa Paaralan 2019 School Build took its official starting day on its estimated 22-day duration in the 3 municipalities in the province, Compostela, New Bataan and Pantukan.

The simultaneous kick-off ceremony to the construction of classroom buildings commenced on September 20, 2019 in various school sites identified as geographically isolated and depressed areas (GIDA) in Pagsabangan, New Bataan, Barangays Panansalan and Side 4, Mangayon in Compostela, and Sitio Sapanglubog, Brgy Tibagon, Pantukan.

Again, following the Bayanihan concept, the provincial government through its different offices led the building of the classrooms along with the municipal and barangay LGUs, national agencies and other private partners. One of which is at Purok 3, Brgy. Panansalanan, Compostela were the Provincial Administrator’s Office under Provincial Administrator Virgilia Allones, Provincial Human Resource Management Development Office, Compostela Valley Scholarship Program, CVPH Laak partnered with LGU Mawab, LGU Compostela and the Department of Education to build the 1 unit-2 classroom building.

Department of Education-Comval represented by Mr. Ruben Reponte thanked the provincial government under Gov. Tyron Uy, the LGUs and the rest of the partners as well as the volunteers for supporting the program.

Panansalan, with its green, lush and mountainous surroundings is also a big challenge in the part of the students living in Purok 3 as most of them will have to walk more or less 8 kilometers to reach the nearest school.

“Mas nindot na ang sistema sa edukasyon sa karun kay makita man gyud nato ang tabang sa gobyerno.” said  Madonio Jacinto, Purok-3 Chairman of Panansalan.

He added that the community has about 39 households with farming as their means of livelihood where residents raise chickens, goats, pigs and plants vegetables for consumption and to generate income for their daily needs.

"Nindot kay makatabang ang bag ong eskwelahan nga mahimo pinaagi sa Bayanihan Sa Paaralan 2019 Build. Dako ang matabang ani sa amua ilabi na ug Sabado ug Dominggo kay makatabang amung mga anak sa uma kay makauli man dayun kumpara sa una nga layo ang eskwelahan.  Ug karun nga naa nami bag ong eskwelahan, possible kaayo nga makahuman amuang mga anak sa high school kay dili na maproblema ug kwarta pambalon, ang importante kaon nalang amuang atimanon," explained Marah J. Magno, a resident of P3 Panansalan.  (Jasteen P. Abella, ID COMVAL)