‘We Will Rise Again,’ prayers mark 1st Yolanda anniversary

MANILA, Philippines - A video released by the government features the song “We Will Rise Again” while Catholic bishops have declared Nov. 8 as a National Day of Prayer to mark the first anniversary of Super Typhoon Yolanda.

Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) president Lingayen-Dagupan Archbishop Socrates Villegas made the declaration in a circular issued on Nov. 4.

Churches around the country will simultaneously ring their bells at 6 p.m. on Saturday to mark the first anniversary of Yolanda, which left at least 6,300 people dead and 28,000 injured and destroyed billions worth of properties.

Villegas has urged his fellow prelates and apostolic administrators to take part in the simultaneous ringing of church bells and encouraged dioceses, schools and organizations to conduct their own activities to mark the anniversary of Yolanda.

Yesterday at 11:30 a.m., the government launched the music video of the song “We Will Rise Again” online and in various television stations and cinemas nationwide to pay tribute to Filipino resilience and recognize those who helped in the relief and rehabilitation efforts.

The video featured photos and footage of relief efforts by government agencies and local and international humanitarian groups. It also showed images of children in typhoon-hit areas who remained upbeat despite the tragedy that struck them.

The five-minute song was composed by Jude Gitamondoc and performed by Raki Vega.

“The Office of the Presidential Assistant for Rehabilitation and Recovery has put together this ‘We Will Rise Again’ music video as a reminder of the unwavering determination, the indomitable spirit and the unparalleled resilience of the Filipinos,” the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) said.

All state agencies, television networks, cinemas, development partners and private sector partners were asked to share the link of the music video in their official websites and social networking accounts.

The NDRRMC will also launch on Monday a book containing the experiences of those who joined in the relief efforts in areas struck by Yolanda.

The book “Y it happened” will feature best practices, lessons and stories of typhoon survivors, donors, humanitarian groups and responders.

“We are hoping the experiences we have in Yolanda would work in our favor so that these things would not happen again,” NDRRMC executive director Alexander Pama said.

Noy to visit Guiuan

President Aquino will not be in Tacloban City tomorrow to commemorate the first anniversary of Yolanda.

“Yolanda affected a wide area. The President chose Guiuan (Eastern Samar), which was the first point of impact last Nov. 8,” Presidential Communications Operations Office  Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. said. “He has limited time as he is preparing for back-to-back APEC and ASEAN summits.”

The President will inspect the Guiuan public market, Cogon relocation site and other areas.

Meanwhile, a thanksgiving concert will be held today at the Quezon Memorial Circle in recognition of all those who helped Tacloban City and its people recover from the devastation caused by Yolanda.

The event is dubbed as “Handumanan: Pasasalamat sa mga Bayani ng Haiyan.” “Handumanan” is the Visayan word for “tribute.”

Organizers said Leyteño Rico Blanco, former frontman of rock band Rivermaya, has authorized the use of his award-winning song “Liwanag sa Dilim” to be the thanksgiving concert’s carrier song.

Celebrities Daniel Padilla, Sitti, Kim Chiu, Karla Estrada and Kitchie Nadal are expected to be at the concert.

Other performers include celebrities and artists like sculptor Aba Dalena, Geo Ong, Imago, South Border, Banda ni Kleggy, Mayonnaise, Gracenote, Phylum Band, Myrus, the UP Madrigals, Ballet Philippines, the Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra and British singer Steve Steadman.

The concert was organized by the Haiyan Disaster Governance Initiative, which is led by actor-producer Carlo Maceda and former Tacloban City administrator Tecson John Lim.

However, organizers of a dance concert supposedly set today at the Balyuan Amphitheater in Tacloban City have decided to cancel the event after online uproar for being insensitive and disrespectful of the victims of Yolanda.

The event received criticism from netizens over what some dubbed as an inappropriate tagline, “Party like it never happened; remember because it did.”

Netizens also noted insensitive statements on the shirts being sold by organizers, including “Eat, Pray, Loot” and “Akala ko Tsunami, Storm Surge Pala.” – With Alexis Romero, Janvic Mateo, Aurea Calica