A moving homecoming in Tacloban for Marawi war veterans

Jazmin Bonifacio

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A moving homecoming in Tacloban for Marawi war veterans
Tears flow when soldiers of the 82nd Division Reconnaissance Company arrive in Tacloban after their successful tour of duty as part of the government troops which routed the terrorists in Marawi City

TACLOBAN CITY, Philippines – Soldiers of the Philippine Army 82nd Division Reconnaissance Company arrived at the Daniel Z. Romualdez Airport on Sunday afternoon, October 22, amid loud cheers, tears of joy, and sighs of relief, a fitting close to their successful campaign in Marawi City.

Wearing their battle uniforms and carrying their belongings and weapons, some 150 soldiers stood in formation after disembarking from the C-130 plane of the Philippine Air Force. It was obvious they missed their loved ones as they craned their necks and turned their heads, looking for familiar faces among the crowd of well-wishers.

Corporal Dennis Molino from Basey, Samar, was giddy when he saw his two kids running towards him. Then came the tightest of hugs the three of them have had in months. “Feeling ko kamaiha namon nga waray magkita. Na miss ko hira sobra,” Molino said. (I feel this is the longest time we’ve been separated. I miss them so much.)

His 12-year-old daughter Danizel also wept. “Sobra ko nga na miss hi tatay… nahadlok ako han nakadto hiya ha Marawi,” Danizel said. ( miss my father so much… I was afraid for his life when he was assigned to Marawi)

In stark contrast, no one greeted 37-year-old Army Sergeant Nonito Pretenia because his family was in Catbalogan City in the island of Samar, some 112 kilometers away. “It’s kind of sad when you get off the plane and there’s nobody there.”

However, Pretenia said, “I am so thankful to God for this life. I am just happy to be home. I know getting home safe and sound was really emotional for my family in Catbalogan.”

The parking lot of the airport in the Leyte capitol was filled with families of the soldiers hours before the scheduled arrival of the C-130 military transport plane. 

Mary Joyce Balita, a 33 year old teacher of Taft, Eastern Samar, and a mother of 5, waited for her husband Corporal Jome Balita. She patiently held a camera all throughout the ordeal.

“I’ve cried every day, hoping and waiting for my husband come home safely,” she said. According to Mary Joyce she prayed for her husband’s safe return every single day he was in Marawi.

“We have this very nice picture of a happy moment,” Mary Joyce said, “but every time I look at it, I remember the families that weren’t reunited, and the ones that aren’t being reunited today and I think I’m one of the lucky ones.”

Colonel Albert Desoyo, of the 8th Infantry Division Philippine Army, said the country was grateful to the soldiers who fought for nearly 5 months before routing the terrorists who tried to occupy Marawi City. 

“Our debt to our soldiers who made the ultimate sacrifice for our country to preserve our security and freedom in Marawi can never be repaid. They have earned our undying gratitude. Eastern Visayas and the entire country will never forget their sacrifices,” Desoyo said.

Soldiers of the 82nd Division Reconnaissance Company and their families, according to Desoyo, would have to make up for the lost time. They would also undergo a stress debriefing workshop as part of standard procedure.

Meanwhile, the 63rd Infantry Battallion, still in Marawi, was expected to arrive in Tacloban City next week. – Rappler.com

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