BY CARLA GOMEZ
Original article at: http://www.visayandailystar.com/2014/April/24/topstory11.htm
The Negrense Volunteers for Change presented 57 bancas to fishermen who were victims of super typhoon Yolanda in Carles, Iloilo, yesterday.
Fifty-four of the bancas were donated through Plastilens International Inc., and three were from the Brotherhood of Christian Businessmen and Professionals Makati and Ligaya ng Panginoon, NVC president Millie Kilayko said.
The fishermen, on board their new bancas, met up with their donors at mid-sea, on the way to their island, she said.
“The depth of love and generosity of the donors, the warmth of welcome from the community, and the intensity of gratefulness of the fishermen and their families, are beautiful elements that we experience in every turnover of boats,” she said.
But yesterday’s turnover was truly special, she said.
She said “57 boats first appeared as tiny dots on the horizon, then progressed into recognizable images, accompanied by the sound of their engines which intensified into a happy crescendo as they moved forward to meet our boat, followed by graceful turns around us until they finally surrounded our boat and sailed with us to the shoreline of their community” in Brgy Tabugon, Carles.
She said NVC has turned over 1,200 boats to date, and is due to turn over another thousand more.
Beth Ginete of BCBP Makati and Ligaya ng Panginoon who joined the turnover thanked NVC for sharing this chance to be of help to the fishermen of Tabugon. She said the experience was indescribable, “We hope to share this experience when we get back to our communities.”
Butchie Silvosa said that in behalf of Plastilens, Optotech and Shanghai Conant, he was thanking NVC for the opportunity given them to reach out to the fishermen in Brgy Tabugon.
The experience was overwhelming and is something they will always remember, he said.
The NVC volunteers who joined the turnover aside from Kilayko were Mary Anne Mirasol and Omon Maravilla – trustees, Milette Regalado – executive director, Marian Hojilla, Mary Anne Riego, Beng Melcher, Winnie Maravilla, Bardot Weber, Merle Robles, Maricu Malunhao and Jessie Lachica – field officer.*CPG