As Eastern Visayas commemorates the seventh anniversary of typhoon “Yolanda” Sunday, House Majority Leader and Leyte Rep. Martin G. Romualdez and Tingog party-list Rep. Yedda Marie K. Romualdez, along with Tacloban City Mayor Alfred Romualdez, have organized the first Yolanda Commemorative Ride to raise funds for the victims of super typhoon “Rolly.”
The Romualdez couple described the event as "a way of paying forward by the Warays” who were victims of Yolanda on Nov. 8, 2013.
“We organized this event not only to raise funds. We are here to show our brothers and sisters in Bicol and other areas devastated by the recent typhoon that they are not alone,” Majority Leader Romualdez said in a statement.
“We are here to stand by them and give them all the support that they need in these trying times.”
So far, the event organizers have over 2,000 participants.
Rep. Yedda Romualdez encouraged victims of Rolly, especially Bicolanos, saying that like the Waraynons, they will “rise up” and will be able to get back on their feet with the assistance and compassion that will be extended by all Filipinos.
“Like a Phoenix, we have risen from the ashes of devastation. It was not easy, but we managed to stand up and recover our ground. Thanks to friends who rushed to our aid, we were able to resume our daily lives and rebuild our communities. Salamat sa kanilang malasakit, nakabangon tayo (Thanks to their compassion, we have recovered),”she said.
“This value of ‘malasakit’ prompts us today to gather anew despite the risk brought by the pandemic to be able to raise funds for our brothers and sisters who suffered the brunt of typhoon Rolly. We have heard their cries, and we are here now ready to rush to their aid,” she added.
The event dubbed "SIKAD: Urusa nga Pagpitad para ha Pag-uswag (Sama-samang Paghakbang para sa Pag-unlad)" will be held at 5 a.m. at the Tacloban Astrodome.
The Romualdezes’ initiative will be held in coordination with the City of Tacloban, Tacloban SK Federation, and the Region 8 Bicycle Advocacy Community.
According to event organizers, necessary health protocols have been put in place to ensure the safety of participants -- proper registration, temperature checks, wearing of face masks and helmet, observance of physical distancing, and disinfection.
After the commemorative ride, a raffle will be conducted and will benefit the successful registrants.