WHAT are the chances of a house, over more than a million here in Bohol, gets hit by lighting and burns? One in a million, literally.
Up front, Jenefer Tagsa, 33 years old ranch hand of the nearby Garcia ranch, and wife Jenelyn, 37, loan officer of Community Equity Ventures are your ordinary young couple, struggling to earn decent living for their two kids: 12 and 13 years old.
Admitting they are poor, the couple still affords to adopt two teen-age relatives whom they also call their own.
Relatively with a little above the rest of the community considering that they both are working, the Tagsas did not know their luck would shift into a scare.
Having lived with relatives after their marriage 12 years ago until recently, the Tagsa’s condition also allowed them that modest privilege to help their nephews and nieces, in fact has two of them, extending their family, and enriching their kid’s circle of friends and relatives.
Having saved a little after their kids were born, the couple decided to build a small but decent house in Barangay Caboy, Clarin, and over time, bought some appliances and home fixtures to embellish the home both envisioned to be.
Last July 1, while Jenefer was on duty at the ranch, Jenelyn decided to bring their adopted nephew to the hospital for a recurring fever. The son was with an uncle, learning the trade in farming with tractor operations, their daughter was with the grandma, while the niece was vending refreshments in the next barangay. Not one was left in their house.
For that one in a million chance, a freak nature outburst in a lightning hit their house which stood far from their neighbors. Everything they worked for in the past 13 years turned to ashes.
Also burned were their modest savings, a CEV tablet which Jenelyn uses in her work, and personal belongings.
Bahala na ‘tong mga gamit [sa balay} basta ang kinabuhi safe, Jenefer said.
And when ordinary couples would have cursed their God with what happened, starting all over again with two more mouths to feed would have paled the weak-willed.
Not for Jenefer, who grew up in with the hard life in Barangay Tubod.
Soft-spoken but iron-willed, Jenefer has singlehandedly carried the burden of pushing his wife to continue keeping their kids and their extended family fed, warm and straight in faith.
This has caught the attention of the local police office, which took notice of the family’s fear in God and respect for the law, according to Police Lieutenant Amado Amba.
The wife has a classmate, who connected the police community affairs and development unit (PCADU) of Clarin Municipal Police Station, which has been scouting for beneficiaries for the Bohol Provincial Police Office’s police relations program “Libreng Alagad ug Balay (LAB)”.
A program under Police Colonel Lorenzo A Batuan (LAB), LAB is the localized implementation of the PNP’s Kasimbayanan: a convergence program by the police, community volunteers and well-meaning sponsors for building decent local-cost houses to law-abiding Boholanos (LAB) victims of calamities, natural disasters and extreme poverty.
Partnering with Balay sa Paglaum: a charity homebuilding program of Erico Aristotle Aumentado and wife Maria Vanessa Aumentado, LAB finally found sustainability as it struggled to build houses initially from police contributions and donations from businessmen and using volunteer work from fraternity Alpha Kappa Rho and the PNP as well as barangay officials.
Tagsa ra ni mahitabo (This can happen not very often), said Tubod Barangay Chairwoman Leah Empanzo, noting that her council has also volunteered to help the police and other volunteers construct the two-bedroom house for the Tagsas.
Tagsa ra pod ni nga ang gobernador mao gyud ang mianhi aron itugyan ang balay nilang Jenefer, she added, as the community also joyfully witnessed the turn-over ceremonies presided over by the local police.
For police Lieutenant Amado Amba, the Tagsa’s are lucky enough to get their own house from the many residents of Clarin, who was among the hardest hit by storm Odette.
And much for their credit, the Tagsas were among the LAB beneficiaries whose turn-overs were attended by outgoing Bohol Provincial Director Lorenzo Batuan, who first sat in office at Camp Dagohoy October 21, 2022.
Aside from the Tagsa’s new house, that same day, Col Batuan, with Governor Aumentado also turned over a house of the Ranil Cabil of Hibale Danao, and Mauro Omana of Riverside Buacao Clarin.
Col Batuan, whose LAB-LAB project has since built over 50 houses, some are still ongoing, but for a project that started late this year, getting the over 50 houses funded is a feat that is not usual.
And the Tagsa family can attest to that. (RAHC/PIABohol)
