BACOLOD CITY, Negros Occidental, Philippines – Jeffrey Gelangre greeted his followers and friends at the end of his program today on Facebook around 6:30am.
He did not know it was his last broadcast.
As soon as he stood up in his makeshift studio 165 kilometers south from here in Canturay village, Sipalay City, he collapsed.
First responders failed to revive him and he was dead upon arriving at a hospital, his brother, Richard, told DNX.
Jeffrey Gelangre, who worked for the most part of his professional life as a blocktime broadcaster, was 45.
“He greeted me on air for the last time today,” Richard said.
In another village 30 kilometers from where Jeffrey fell, rampaging waters of the Kalatong River swept away two houses in the community of Omas.
Village councilman Richard Vallota said no one was reported to have died or got hurt as residents have already evacuated before the river overflowed its banks.
Elsewhere in the province, floods hit areas near rivers, sparing not even the dead like in La Castellana town where floodwater covered the entire public cemetery as of 6am today, 29 October 2022.
While the flood has subsided around 10am today, it is not yet sure if townsfolk would have a dry All Saints Day on 1 November when most in the province would usually light candles on the tombs of their dead.
After days of moderate to sometimes torrential rain brought by Paeng, a tropical storm that started as a depression, Capitol’s social welfare chief Merle Garcia reported at least 27,000 people were affected in five towns and three cities in the province.
As of 4pm today, 29 October 2022, 27,156 Negrosanons from the towns of Calatrava, EB Magalona, Valladolid, Moises Padilla, Hinobaan, Candoni, Ilog, and Cauayan, and the cities of Sipalay, Silay, Bago, San Carlos, Sagay, and Escalante have been affected.
The report added 17,549 affected persons are outside evacuation centers while 9,607 are inside these centers.
In the city, Barangay 18 marked its annual fiesta amid gloomy skies and as rains drenched this urban capital.
“This is for the benefit of residents here,” village chief Madeline Diaz told DNX as she posted photos of her leading a boodle fight or a kamayan style eating where food is placed in long tables for everyone eats together.
The photos show at least four whole roasted pigs or lechon.
Things were not as cheerful in other villages here, however, as floodwaters forced residents to flee, upping the evacuee count to 438 families or 1,566 persons as of 4pm today, 29 October 2022.
Most of the residents who fled their homes are in coastal villages.
Banago topped the list with 533 persons, Punta Taytay (254), Barangay 16 (100) Barangay 2 (35), Pahanocoy (120), Singcang Airport (247), Barangay 1 (54),
Taculing (62), Tangub (49) Sum-ag (76), and Barangay 14 (36).
