GOODWILL. Vice Mayor Lazatin does ceremonial tossing of petals and coins on the houses his family awarded to local residents. PHOTO BY BONG LACSON
CITY OF SAN FERNANDO – “Maraming maraming salamat po sa biyayang ibinigay ninyo (Thank you very much for the blessings you have given).”
Thus, said an emotional Linda Balaquiao, 65, for the parcel of land and a house that were awarded to her by the Lahar Free Corporation (LFC) with a Certificate of Ownership handed to her by Vice Mayor Jaime “Jimmy” T. Lazatin as representative of the corporation, Atty. Gener C. Endona, San Jose Barangay Captain Loreto “Boy” Tumang and municipal councilors of nearby Mexico town.
Balaquiao is part of the initial seven families that were awarded houses and lots by the LFC in Barangay San Jose here after they agreed to voluntary leave their former houses in a nearby area that is now taken up by Century Corporation.
“Dati ayaw kong lumipat dahil yung bahay ko po ayaw kung iwanan, pero ngayon ako ay nagagalak sa pagkakaloob ng bahay at lupa sa amin ng mga Lazatin (Before I refused to move because I don’t want to leave my house but now I am happy for the house and lot that was given to me by the Lazatin family),” said Balaquiao.
Ana Liza Gonzales, 35, broke into tears as she could no longer contain her emotions after she was handed her Certificate of Ownership by Lazatin. Gonzales, with her certificate in one hand, even hugged Endona and thanked him profusely.
“Maraming maraming salamat sa inyo (Thank you very very much),” she said as tears welled in her eyes. Rogelio Leynes, 54, spoke in behalf of the awardees. “Pasalamat keng maragul kareng Lazatin (We want to extend a big thanks to the Lazatins),” he said.
Tumang acknowledged the efforts of his constituents who voluntarily relocated. “Tinutulungan ninyo kami, kami naman ang tutulong sa inyo (You helped us, now we will help you),” Tumang said. “Maragul ya pung kasopan kareng kanakung kabaryu ini kasi reng bale da pu mika title nala pu, at ita pu ing importante (This is a big help to my constituents because now their houses are titled to them and this is what’s important),” he said.
Tumang also said their new houses are flood-free unlike before. For his part, Vice Mayor Lazatin said for three generations now, starting with his grandfather Serafin and his father Jesus, the Lazatin family has continuously helped the people of San Jose.
“Ing pamilyang Lazatin parehas ya pu. Akakit yu pu nung maka nanu ya sumaup kareng tau. Eku sasabyan yan bilang pung metung a vice mayor (The Lazatin family is fair. You witness how we help the people. I am not saying this because I am the vice mayor),” Lazatin said in his brief message.
“Angang pung eku vice mayor makanyan la pu sumaup deng pamilya manibat pa pu ketang ingkung ku keng kanakung pengari, E re pu pepaburen ing San Jose makanyun mu naman lakwas na pu aku vice mayor ku lakwas dakong e paburen (Even if I am not the vice mayor this is how the Lazatin family helps the people since the time of my grandfather and my father. They did not neglect San Jose what more now that I am the vice mayor I won’t neglect you),” Lazatin said amid resounding applause.
“Ita pung kekami manibat ya keng pusu itang bibye mi kekayu uling karapat dapat ya anya atsu kepu keni atin tang ditak a selebrasyun batang namnaman ing biyaya (What we give to you comes from our heart because we know it is your right that is why we have now a small celebration to cherished this blessings),” the vice mayor said.
Preceding the ceremony was a blessing of the houses officiated by Fr. Mar Miranda.
