Candle event for ‘Yolanda’ anniversary

TACLOBAN CITY—At least 50,000 candles will be lighted along roads in four areas in Leyte in memory of thousands of people who died when Supertyphoon “Yolanda” (international name: Haiyan) devastated the province nearly two years ago.

“It’s a collective remembering and praying for the victims… We are appealing for the public for their support,” said Msgr. Alex Opiniano, parish priest of St. Michael Archangel in Tolosa town.

The event, dubbed Yolanda candlelight memorial, would also be a time of reflection for survivors, said Opiniano, who was parish priest of Santo Niño Church in Tacloban, considered the ground zero of the world’s strongest typhoon to make landfall in recent history.

Starting at 7 p.m. on Nov. 8, the candles will be lighted in this city and in Palo, Tanauan and Tolosa towns, over a distance of about 24 kilometers, and in mass burial sites in Palo and Tanauan.

Opiniano said the activity would serve as a reminder of the “tragic event which makes us closer to each other.”

Manila Archbishop Luis Antonio Cardinal Tagle will preside a Mass in the morning at the Palo Metropolitan Cathedral in Palo. In the afternoon, another Mass will be held at the Santo Niño Church, to be officiated by Palo Archbishop John Du.

Jeff Manibay, organizer of One Tacloban which is spearheading the candle lighting, said a similar event would take place in London at 10 a.m. Joey A. Gabieta, Inquirer Visayas