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Antiqueños brave muddy terrain to visit cemeteries

By Annabel Consuelo Petinglay

October 31, 2022, 6:20 pm

<p><strong>AGAINST THE ODDS.</strong> Residents of the municipality of Sibalom in Antique arrive in trickles at the public cemetery on Monday (Oct. 31, 2022). Continuous rainfall since Friday (October 28), induced by Severe Tropical Storm Paeng, created muddy trails leading to the cemetery and inside the compound itself. <em>(PNA photo by Annabel Consuelo J. Petinglay)</em></p>

AGAINST THE ODDS. Residents of the municipality of Sibalom in Antique arrive in trickles at the public cemetery on Monday (Oct. 31, 2022). Continuous rainfall since Friday (October 28), induced by Severe Tropical Storm Paeng, created muddy trails leading to the cemetery and inside the compound itself. (PNA photo by Annabel Consuelo J. Petinglay)

SAN JOSE DE BUENAVISTA, Antique – Residents braved the muddy terrain in cemeteries to visit their dead loved ones as the province reels from the effects of Severe Tropical Storm Paeng.

Francisco Vedeja pedalled for 8 kilometers from his residence in Barangay Solong to the public cemetery of Sibalom in Barangay Catmon as part of his yearly obligation to visit his deceased mother.

“I went to the cemetery a day before the All Saint’s Day so that I could still clean the tomb of my mother and make sure that it will be ready by tomorrow (Tuesday),” he said in an interview Monday.

His mother passed away 10 years ago and he has not missed visiting her yearly, even if not on All Saints’ Day itself.

“I am grateful for all the sacrifices that my mother has done for me that despite the recent typhoon, I have to make sure that I pay my respects to her,” he said.

Rosario Tardo of San Remigio town said it has been a family tradition to visit their dead loved ones every November 1 or whenever they can.

“We offer flowers to them,” she said.

The Antique Provincial Police Office (APPO) set up Police Action Centers in various cemeteries in the 18 towns starting 7 a.m.

Maj. Adolfo Pagharion, APPO information chief, said that there are two to three cemeteries in every municipality that will be secured by cops.

“We are reminding the public not to bring in bladed weapons and alcoholic drinks to cemeteries,” Pagharion said.

Vaccination cards are required while children below 5 years old are not allowed to enter.  

Parts of Antique were placed under Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal No. 2 on Saturday.

Of the 23 rain-induced landslides in Western Visayas as of Sunday’s data, 14 were in Antique.

The towns of Tibiao, Anini-y, Barbaza, Valderrama, Tobias Fornier, San Remegio, San Jose, and Patnongon incurred a combined PHP63.199 million in total agricultural losses, covering covering 3,127.96 hectares. (PNA)
 
 

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