Thursday, July 24, 2008

Army Recruits Leave Aklan Amid Cheers, Praises and Gratitude

Wearing green T-shirts bearing the words “Help Aklan After Typhoon Frank” in front and “I Was There” at the back, some 52 Army Reservists recruits from Capiz left Aklan on July 11 amid cheers, praises, heartfelt gratitude and tearful goodbyes from Aklanons who saw what the young recruits did to help the province, especially Kalibo, rise from the ruins brought by mud and fallen trees due to Typhoon Frank.
They arrived in Aklan on June 25, three days after the typhoon. The army reservist recruits, with ages ranging from 18 to 28, quickly buckled down to work in their uniforms carrying spade and helped Kalibo clear its streets, schools, the Dr. Rafael S. Tumbokon Memorial Hospital, the cultural center and the “Daeangpan It Mga Kababayenhan It Aklan” of mud, fallen trees, debris and spoils caused by the record-high flood and piles of mud that came in the wake of the typhoon.
The recruits started their day marching from the Provincial Capitol grounds where they were temporarily housed during their 17-day stay in Kalibo, to the heart of the town where the government buildings are located, spading mud out of classrooms and offices and carrying tree trunks and branches of trees to clear streets adjacent to the schools and public buildings. Late in the afternoon, they were seen marching back to the Provincial Capitol Grounds in a single file, their uniforms and bodies splattered with mud and other dirt while rendering volunteer work. Instead of long firearms which they may carry, each of them carried a spade and cake of mud.
Lt. Decion Joe P. Gahum, who led the group said, “despite the arduous work the young recruits rendered during the stay in Kalibo, they only suffered broken skin on their feet.
“The Aklan Medical Society took care of their medical needs and vitamins and throughout their stay, they have not suffered any major health problems.”
The group members of BCMT CI-01-08, from 603rd CDC, 6RCDG, ARESCOM of Camp Belo, Timpas, Panit-an, Capiz, will be graduating on August 2, 2008, informed Lt. Gahum.
Before their departure, the group was given a send-off reception in the evening of July 10 by the Provincial Government under Governor Carlito S. Marquez and the Aklan Medical Society. (PIA/Venus G. Villanueva) /MP

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