TACLOBAN CITY, Philippines – Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn of Thailand on Tuesday arrived in this city for a tour and visit of the projects she and her government had funded for the survivors of super typhoon Yolanda.
Princess Maha was accompanied by Thailand Ambassador to the Philippines Thanatip Upatising when she met with Leyte Governor Leopoldo Dominico Petilla, who in turn hosted a welcome dinner for her and her entourage.
Petilla said the 60-year-old Thai princess first visited some tourist spots in the city and province, such as the iconic Santo Niño Church and the Sto. Niño Shrine, among others.
Later she proceeded to the town of Dagami where she turned over a two-classroom building to the Department of Education. The building at Barangay Banayon Elementary School in Dagami was built to withstand strong typhoons like Yolanda that devastated Leyte on November 8, 2013, said Petilla.
Princess Maha, under close security by the local police and the military, also inspected livelihood projects—mushroom production and tilapia-raising—she financed for Yolanda victims in that town.
Leyte provincial officials also expressed gratitude to the royal government of Thailand for the assistance extended for the recovery of Yolanda victims, who were awed by the princess’s presence.
The governor’s mother, Palo town Mayor Remedios Petilla, was equally astounded by the affability and simplicity of the royal princess of Thailand, a country not spared by destructive natural calamities.
The two Petillas lauded the Thai government for putting priority in education, as shown in its assistance for the construction of a school building in Dagami.
“She (princess) told us how Thailand is much like the Philippines when natural calamities happen, wherein school buildings are used as evacuation centers by poor families,” the governor said.
The mayor also told The FREEMAN she was impressed by the Thai government and Princess Maha’s efforts on giving importance to educating the Filipino youth, a matter that encourage the Palo local government more in continuing to provide school buildings, especially in the remote barangays.
Vice Governor Carlo Loreto added that he had high esteem on the Thai princess’s “kinder spirit in going out of her way to come and visit Leyte to see what she can do to help us.” — With Primo A. Cayubit (FREEMAN)