Manila, Philippines — Six years ago, super typhoon Yolanda swept through Eastern Visayas and claimed the lives of at least 7,350 people aside from unquantifiable damages to properties.

For some, especially people of Tacloban City in the Province of Leyte and many parts of Samar Island, Yolanda was the worst of its kind and they are not to forget. Never.

Exact date of which is November 8, 2013, and they mourn still up to this very day.

And as the whole country weeps in commemoration Thursday (08 November 2019) of that fateful day, House legislators passed a resolution declaring November 8 henceforth as “Yolanda Commemoration Day” while hoping their Senate counterparts do the same.

And as expected of them, it was House Majority Leader and Leyte Rep. Martin Romualdez and Tingog Party-list Rep. Yedda Marie Kittilstvedt Romualdez, also of Leyte, who prodded their counterparts in the Senate to support the initiative in the Upper Chamber for the final declaration of Nov. 8 as “Yolanda Commemoration Day.” 

“We appeal to the honorable members of the Senate to also pass this measure ASAP as it is very important to us Leytenos and Samarenos,” the Romualdezes said referring to House Bill No. 4960, also known as Yolanda Bill which reached final reading last Monday (04 November 2019).

According to the House Majority Leader, the Bill is intended to be a fitting tribute in memory of all those who perished in the disaster and to salute the selflessness of all volunteers and organizations who took part and contributed to the recovery and rehabilitation efforts of the communities affected by the typhoon.

It may be recalled, Pope Francis even visited Tacloban and held a special mass for Yolanda victims during his official state visit to the Philippine in 2015. 

Under House Bill 4960, November 8 of every year shall be declared as a special non-working holiday in Tacloban City and the provinces of Leyte, Biliran, Southern Leyte, Northern Samar, Western and Eastern Samar to commemorate and commiserate relatives of victims of Yolanda (International Code Name Haiyan). (Cate Pallarco/IAMIGO/CNS)