SAN ANTONIO, Basey, Samar – The growing barangay of San Antonio in the first-class municipality of Basey celebrated on Friday, June 13, its 131st fiesta in honor of its patron saint, Señor San Antonio de Padua.

Historical accounts reveal that the village—originally known as Sitio Binatak—was renamed San Antonio in 1891 after a Franciscan friar, Rev. Fr. Antonio Sanchez, was assigned to the Saint Michael the Archangel Parish in Basey. It was Fr. Sanchez who introduced devotion to Saint Anthony of Padua to the local community, which embraced him as their patron saint.
The same year marked the beginning of the annual fiesta celebration every June 13, with Fernando Nodado serving as the first hermano mayor. He later became the first cabeza del barrio in 1900.

This year’s celebration is especially significant as it is the first fiesta under the leadership of the new parish priest, Rev. Fr. Tyrone de la Cruz Odinada, who was installed as the second parish priest on March 14, 2025, by Rev. Msgr. Niceas T. Abujuela, Diocesan Vicar General.
A native of Basey, Fr. Odinada is the eighth priest to serve the barangay since its elevation as a mission venter on July 23, 2011, with Rev. Fr. Agustin Ortillo Gelera as the first priest-in-charge. He was succeeded by Fr. Rex M. Ibañez, Fr. Eduardo T. Bersamin, Fr. Noel A. Abiertas (with Fr. Dominador Ontuca as assistant), Fr. Basilio Salino, Fr. Fidel Colminar, and Fr. Marlo Benjamin C. Mangubat.

In the absence of a designated hermano mayor this year, the celebration is sponsored collectively by parishioners. Twelve hermanitos and hermanitas stepped up to shoulder the responsibilities of the role. They are:

Venerando P. Café Jr., Mae B. Amago, Elena P. Larios, Perlita O. Jaway, Trinidad S. Duero, Nilda O. Regaña, Nikki Rose R. Duero, Jemma C. Labuac, Barbara L. Robin, Abundia Manzanade, Vener P. Café, and Venice P. Café.

In his homily during the opening of the novena-masses on June 4, 2025, Fr. Odinada expressed his heartfelt gratitude to all parishioners for their unwavering support in making the celebration a success.

The fiesta tradition begins annually with the 13-Tuesday Novena Masses, culminating the Tuesday before June 4, which then leads into the nine-day novena masses. The 13-Tuesdays devotion was introduced in 1999 when this writer served as hermano mayor.

That same year also saw the founding of the Cofradía de Antonia and the composition of the Hymn to Señor San Antonio de Padua, with lyrics written by this writer and the melody composed for the faithful. The hymn has since been sung as the recessional song in every mass. (AL ELLEMA)

TACLOBAN CITY — President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. has stressed the importance of conducting regular inspections and maintenance of vital infrastructure, following the partial closure of the San Juanico Bridge due to structural issues.

Speaking during his recent inspection of Amandayehan Port in Basey, Samar—now serving as an alternative route for cargo vehicles—Marcos pointed out that maintenance protocols may not have been properly observed on the 2.16-kilometer bridge, the main land link between Leyte and Samar.

“We didn’t expect that this was already worse, maybe the maintenance was not properly done. It should be done every three years,” the President said, underlining the need for consistent monitoring to prevent further deterioration.

To address the ongoing transport challenges, Marcos assured that the government will take steps to reduce disruptions in the delivery of essential goods, particularly perishables.

“We will enforce a system to prioritize the perishable goods,” he said, also noting the potential increase in transportation costs during the bridge’s rehabilitation period.

To support repair efforts, the President earlier signed Proclamation No. 920, declaring a state of calamity in Eastern Visayas, enabling the release of emergency funds and resources.

Asked when the declaration might be lifted, Marcos responded, “When the traffic has returned to normal.”

Public Works Secretary Manuel Bonoan has also stated that weight limits on the San Juanico Bridge may be adjusted by the last quarter of the year, depending on the pace of structural reinforcement.

Meanwhile, the government continues to mobilize vessels and explore alternate transport routes to maintain the flow of goods and ensure the economic resilience of the region.

(LIZBETH ANN A. ABELLA)

TACLOBAN CITY – Borongan City Mayor Jose Ivan Dayan Agda has strongly opposed a new plan by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources’ Mines and Geosciences Bureau (DENR-MGB) to open over 2,700 hectares of land in the city to potential mining activities.

Agda warned that any mining operations—whether in Borongan’s mountains or coastal waters—could threaten the city’s natural defenses and disrupt local livelihoods.
“We have been against any mining activity from the very start,” Agda said in a phone interview on Tuesday, June 9. “We want to preserve our forests, which serve as natural barriers against typhoons.”

The mayor said the city council is considering a resolution to formally express its opposition to the plan, which was made public by MGB on June 4 through a notice inviting applications for industrial sand and gravel permits in Borongan City and the towns of Hernani and Gen. MacArthur.

According to MGB’s notice, the proposed mining areas span 3,784.98 hectares in Hernani and Gen. MacArthur, and 2,759.79 hectares in Borongan alone.

The announcement has also drawn swift backlash from the Diocese of Borongan, with Fr. James Abella, director of the diocesan Commission on Social Action, Justice, and Peace, urging residents to reject the proposed mining projects.

Agda echoed these concerns and expressed intent to meet with MGB officials to clarify the proposal’s scope—including which specific areas would be affected and what minerals would be extracted.

“We want to know exactly which areas are covered and what kind of mining is being proposed in Borongan,” he said, noting that any operations near critical water sources like the Loom River could be especially harmful.

The mayor acknowledged that limited sand and gravel extraction might be acceptable, particularly to support dredging efforts, but he drew a hard line against mining in forested or mountainous areas.

“Sand and gravel could help save resources for dredging, but I’m absolutely against any mining in our mountains,” Agda emphasized.

Borongan is known to have deposits of gold and bauxite, but Agda said preservation must come first.

Agda also warned of social consequences, saying mining-related displacement of jobs could lead to economic instability and even fuel unrest.

“This could eventually affect our economy. And what I fear is that people who lose their livelihoods may be pushed to go to the mountains,” he said, hinting at the risks of increased insurgency.

Elsewhere in Eastern Samar, large-scale mining operations are already active on Manicani and Homonhon islands, where companies continue to extract nickel and chromite. On Homonhon, four companies—Min-Met Resources, Verum Terra Geosciences Inc., TelcIron Resources Inc., and Emirs Mineral Resources—operate mining sites. Hinatuan Mining Corp. operates on Manicani Island.

Agda and local Church leaders say they hope that public pressure and community action will be enough to halt the proposed mining expansion before it begins.

(JOEY A. GABIETA)