Kin of missing Pinoy teachers in Myanmar pray for rescue

The families of four missing Filipino teachers in Myanmar are clinging to hope for their immediate rescue following a devastating 7.7-magnitude earthquake that has claimed over 1,000 lives.

According to a Monday report by Jonathan Andal on 24 Oras, the missing teachers were residents of a 12-story condominium in Mandalay that collapsed during the earthquake last Friday.

Barren Barcelo’s mother, Rosalia, has been in distress since the tragedy.

“Lagi na lang akong umiiyak nang palihim, naghihimutok ang dibdib ko. Parang naiisip ko, hirap na hirap na siya sa ilalim ng building na ‘yun,” she said.

(I cry in secret, my heart aches. I can’t help but think that he’s struggling under the rubble.)

The other missing teachers are Francis Aragon and the couple Edsil Jess and Alexis Gale Adalid.

“Hindi po ako nawawalan ng pag-asa. Alam ko po na mahahanap rin siya,” said Mae Kathleen Aragon, Francis’ wife.

(I’m not losing hope. I know he will be found soon.)

“Sobrang hirap po kasi may dalawa pa rin kaming anak na maliliit, at nag-sacrifice lang talaga kami na magkahiwalay kami dahil nga po sa kahirapan din ng buhay,” she added.

(It’s very difficult because we have two small children, and we had to be apart due to financial struggles.)

Meanwhile, the Adalid family has been holding a prayer vigil in their hometown of Bais, Negros Oriental.

“Yun na lang yung natitira sa amin, yung surrender, yung trust sa Lord,” said Hermosa Adalid, Edsil’s mother.

(All we can do now is surrender and trust in the Lord.)

Authorities discovered some of the couple’s belongings, including jackets still hanging in the rubble. Fellow Filipino teachers have been assisting in the search efforts.

A colleague of the Adalids, Teacher Dan, expressed concerns over the slow rescue operations.

“Kasi mabagal po talaga ‘yung rescue rito. So, mas maigi na mga Pinoy sana,” he said.

(The rescue here is very slow. It would be better if there were Filipino rescuers.)

The Philippine Embassy in Myanmar has deployed a team to the collapsed condominium.

“Kumikilos naman po lahat, ginagawa natin lahat para malaman ang nangyari doon sa mga Pilipinong unaccounted for,” said Charge D’ Affaires Angelito Nayan.

(Everyone is working hard to determine what happened to the missing Filipinos.)

Malacañang announced that a team of Filipino rescuers was preparing for deployment.

“114 personnel ang ating ipapadala bukas. Ito ay manggagaling sa mga ahensya tulad ng DOH, kasama na rin dito urban search and rescue team ng Bureau of Fire Protection at Armed Forces of the Philippines,” said Presidential Communications Office Undersecretary Claire Castro.

(We will deploy 114 personnel tomorrow from agencies such as the DOH, the urban search and rescue team of the Bureau of Fire Protection, and the Armed Forces of the Philippines.)

The families of the missing teachers are eager to travel to Myanmar to search for their loved ones.

“Gusto ko man makita yung anak ko, ako ang maghahanap, hahanapin ko siya kasi baka hindi siya kilala ng tao roon eh,” said Rosalia.

(I want to see my son. I will look for him myself because people there may not recognize him.)

However, the Philippine Embassy has stated that travel to Myanmar remains difficult.

“Hindi ho biro ang biyahe dito dahil sira-sira ang daan at hirap ang komunikasyon. Labing limang oras po sila bibiyahe by land at hindi po maayos ang daan,” said Nayan.

(Traveling here is not easy due to damaged roads and poor communication. It takes 15 hours by land, and the roads are in bad condition.) — Vince Angelo Ferreras/DVM, GMA Integrated News