In the heart of Ormoc lies the inconspicuous two-story building of the city’s first and only museum. Originally built in 1947 as a City Hall, the edifice now houses artwork
The coastal city of Ormoc, Leyte, is known for its fruits, especially pineapple, and that is why every year it celebrates the Piña Festival in a big way.
“Foodprints” was scheduled to do a show in Ormoc, Leyte, which is two hours from Tacloban. I was looking forward to something else, though: the food in Otso Otso restaurant in Tacloban. We had such a healthy and memorable meal here last time that I never forgot it.
Like a kid in a candy store, I was eagerly awaiting September and now it’s here. September is the time I celebrate my annual life milestones. It’s hard to believe that a year has passed since my wonderful golden birthday bash in Balesin Island.
Harvey Specter sits across us, nattily dressed as ever in a gray suit and a crisp white shirt, his hair neatly in place. His trademark predatory expression is nowhere to be seen; in its place is a warm smile and twinkling eyes. Of course, Harvey lives only in the make-believe world of “Suits,” and the man facing us, who plays Harvey Specter to perfection, is actor Gabriel Macht.
Ninety days after “Yolanda,” Ormoc is slowly coming back to life. I ended the workweek with a quick trip to the seaside sitio of Lawis in Albuera, which is 40 minutes away from Ormoc. Our company donated the first 10 of 20 boats that we had committed to the fisherfolk in our adopted community.
The experience of shuttling back and forth from Manila to Ormoc and various parts of Bohol over the last six weeks has given me an even deeper appreciation of the importance of each day, the value of speaking from the heart and leaving nothing unsaid, and the grace of a grateful heart.
IN 2007, Inquirer artist Albert Rodriguez created the comic strip Crazy Jhenny, inspired by Joyce Abaño, a coworker who had moved from Ormoc to Manila to work. “She’s really funny, and had crazy adventures and mishaps as an editorial assistant and as a reporter. I thought it would make a great strip,” he said. “When she left, I got ideas from my friends and family.”
The sky was still a deep blue, refusing to give in to the light of day when we stepped out to catch the first scheduled fast craft to Ormoc from Cebu. The atmosphere was somber as we made our way. There was little chatter as everyone in our group seemed lost in his own thoughts that morning.
NOV. 15: My neighbor’s housekeeper had been despondent for days, sleepless and unable to eat, with the news that her eldest son, who is 19 years old, had disappeared without a trace in the eye of the Tacloban storm. She had planned to make the 22-hour trip by bus to try to find him over the weekend.
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