131 MSU-Marawi students arrive safely, grateful to MisOcc LGU

At least 131 students of Mindanao State University-Marawi who repatriated to the province of Misamis Occidental have arrived safely here at Ozamiz City Port around 3:00 a.m. on December 4.

The students were among those individuals that were stranded following the bombing incident at a gymnasium at MSU Marawi.

The repatriated students expressed gratitude for the immediate assistance offered by Governor Henry Oaminal as well as the local government mayors, the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office (PDRRMO), and law enforcement agencies, including the provision of transportation, ready-to-eat meals, and other necessary assistance.

Reynald C. Babaren Jr., a 3rd-year Hospitality Management student and a permanent resident of Lopez Jaena, thanked Oaminal for his quick action, making it easy for them to avail of the free shuttle from the MisOcc government.

“Isip usa ka studyante, we are so blessed, karon nga nakita gyud namo ang pag-responde ni Governor Henry Oaminal bisag wala siya namo dinhi nakita gyud namo ang iyang presensya. Blessed kaayo ko nga si gov nagpadayon og support sa amoa nga bisan layo mi sa MisOcc na feel gyud namo ang iyang love [As students, we are so blessed today that we saw the response of Governor Henry Oaminal, even though he was not here with us. We actually saw his presence. I am very blessed that the governor continues to support us and that even though we are far from MisOcc, we really feel his love],” he shared.

Junell Francis Yonson, an Oroquieta City resident and student of information and computing sciences, shared the incident's traumatic effects.

Yonson recalled that he was at the ROTC Field near the gymnasium when he heard a loud explosion comparable to an exploded power transformer.

Upon hearing the loud blast, he immediately ran onto Peace Plaza, and there he found out people were injured and some had died.

“Maka-trauma kaayo siya kay first year pa gyud ko dinhi pero pasalamat kaayo ko ni Governor Henry Oaminal ug sa among mayor sa Oroquieta nga si Mayor Lemuel Meyrick Acosta, salamat kaayo sa imong suporta [It traumatized me because I am still in my first year here, but I am very grateful to Governor Henry Oaminal and our mayor of Oroquieta, Mayor Lemuel Meyrick Acosta, for their support],” he said.

Kent Jabian, a 1st year BS Accountancy student and a resident of Aloran town, thanked the governor for his initiative to help support the Misamisnon students in Marawi amid the incident.

“Salamat gyud kaayo kay imo mi gipakuha dinhi sa MSU kay ang among mga pamilya nabalaka kaayo gyud among ginikanan mao nang nagpasalamat gyud kaayo mi imo ming gitagaan ug importansya dinhi nga ga eskwela sa MSU [Thank you very much because you brought us here from MSU because our families and parents were worried. We are really thankful that you gave us importance here as learners at MSU],” he stressed.

Following the bombing incident on Sunday morning, the MSU administration immediately ordered the suspension of classes and all academic activities. (PGMO/PIA-10/Misamis Occidental)