Imee spends birthday at work; offers sympathy to Yolanda victims

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, GOVERNOR. Gov. Imee Marcos thanks the people who celebrated her birthday with her in front of the Provincial Capitol. (Alaric A. Yanos)

By Grazielle Mae A. Sales

PGIN-CMO

After attending a simple celebration prepared by Capitol employees for her birthday, Ilocos Norte Governor Ma. Imelda “Imee” R. Marcos called it work as usual and headed to the town of San Nicolas to grace a jobs fair on November 12. 

Earlier that morning, she attended mass at the Carmelite Chapel near the Bishop’s Residence in Laoag City and had a simple buffet with Capitol employees who handed her roses and sang an Ilocano birthday song.

“Ako’y nagpapasalamat sa inyo sa tiyaga at pagtitiis habang ako’y natututo bilang local government executive,” the governor said.

“Pumapasok tayo sa ating ikalawang term at marami tayong trabaho, marami tayong gagawin. Sabi nga nila, ito ang productive term ng bawat official,” she added.

She also gave thanks to the “blessings and grace” received by the Province of Ilocos Norte amid the adversities experienced by it during the previous months, such as the Typhoon “Vinta” which took a large toll at the province’s agriculture and infrastructure.

She said that the province is still lucky for being spared from disasters as horrific as the Supertyphoon “Yolanda” which tore through central Philippines on November 8. 

“Malaking simpatya para sa lahat ng kalunos-lunos na tinamaan ng bagyo…Sana manatiling maswertehan [ng Ilocos Norte] at bilang pasasalamat, magtrabaho tayo,” Ms Marcos said, enjoining Ilocanos to become more prepared for any disaster that may come.

Asked about her relatives in Leyte who suffered along with thousands of people due to the wrath of what weather experts call as the “perfect cyclone”, she said: “Actually three days naming hindi na-contact ‘yung mga pinsan ko. Salamat naman at naligtas na.”

The governor is cousin to Leyte Rep. Martin Romualdez and Tacloban Mayor Alfred Romuladez who along with his wife, Tacloban City councilor Cristina Gonzales-Romualdez were reportedly almost killed by the unprecedented storm surge.

According to national reports, affected provinces are still littered with debris from damaged homes and most survivors complain of shortage of food, water as well as lack of medicines and electricity that is supposed to enable communication.

“Magpapadala tayo kahit kaunti though hanggang ngayon, naguguluhan pa rin tayo kung ano talaga ang gagawin,” the governor said.

If such calamity hits the province, she said that aside from homes and livelihoods, other “pressures” are at the towns of Paoay, Sarrat and the city Laoag where most of Ilocos Norte’s most admired heritage churches are located. Heritage buildings are one of greatest sources for the province’s income-generating tourism.

“Tuwang-tuwa tayo dahil ngayon tayo’y napagbigyan ngunit signos din ito na dapat tayo’y magsumikap,” she said.

At 2 in the afternoon, Marcos headed to Robinsons Mall Ilocos in San Nicolas where she graced a job fair which offers thousands of job positions from both local and overseas firms.

This event was sponsored by Task Force Trabaho which she incepted last 2012 to work in line with her advocacy “Imee = Trabaho”, which drew hundreds of participants.

Asked about her birthday wish, she uttered with a smile: “Patatagin ang pamilyang Ilocano!”