15 Naga landslide victims laid to rest

Myrna Yopac can only look at the coffins of her daughter Siena and son Edgardo Jr., as they were buried in their respective niches at the City of Naga Public Cemetery in Barangay Naalad yesterday.

Siena, 19, and Edgardo, 21, were among the 15 landslide victims from Sitio Sindulan who were buried yesterday.

Yopac said Siena and Edgardo wanted to be full-fledged teachers and even took educational courses to achieve their ambition.

She never thought that the landslide that struck Barangay Tina-an in the early morning of Sept. 20 would take away those dreams.

Still missing

While Siena and Edgardo have been laid to rest, Yopac has to contend with finding her eldest daughter Sheila, who remains missing.

“Maayo unta nga magpadayon ang pagpangita sa mga nahabilin. Gusto unta nako nga makompleto nako ug lubong ang namatay nako nga mga anak para maka-rest in peace sad sila (I hope they will continue with the retrieval operation. I would like them to be buried together so they can all rest in peace),” Yopac added.

Aside from Siena and Edgardo, also buried yesterday were siblings Bianca and Michael Versales; siblings Laureen and Theresa Shyne Capoy; Christopher Jhon Lagapa; Victoriano Abalo; Maria Felipa Baclaan; Cheryl, James Kyle and Chede Pansoy; Olivia Santillan; and Vince Abanda.

Another person buried yesterday was Felipe Dejillas Sr., who died after suffering from a heart attack while staying at the evacuation center at the Enan Chiong Activity Center.

Dejillas reportedly was depressed after most of his relatives died during the landslide.

PHOTO BY RUEL ROSELLO FAREWELL: Friends and relatives say their final goodbye to their fallen loved ones at the Archdioecesan Shrine of St. Francis of Assisi Church in the City of Naga.