Catholic Isabeleños gathered at the city’s waterfront for a fluvial procession to mark the 127th La Conmemoracion de Terremoto, September 21.
Led by Bishop Leo Dalmao, CMF together with other priests from the Prelature of Isabela de Basilan, the faithful made their way along the Malamawi Channel on board outrigger boats led by one which carried the image of Sta. Isabel de Portugal —patroness of the City of Isabela. A eucharistic celebration then followed at the Cathedral of Sta. Isabel de Portugal.
The term “terremoto” is Spanish for earthquake, and this religious observance recalls the testimonies of witnesses during one particular strong temblor that caused a tsunami. Accordingly, they saw a woman standing on a hill (the current site of the Basilan Provincial Capitol), making a gesture as if she was driving the waves away. It was only later that the people realized it was Sta. Isabel herself when they observed that her statue in the old church was wet, with mud at the hem of her garment. Since then, the faithful have marked this date in remembrance of her miracle, celebrated as a second feast day in her honor.
This coincides with an actual historical event when on September 21, 1897, a 7.5 magnitude earthquake struck the Sulu Trech, which was soon followed by a tsunami.
Because of its historical and cultural value to the collective heritage of all Isabeleños, it has been inducted in the Cultural Mapping Project undertaken by the City Tourism Office on behalf of the City Government of Isabela. Meanwhile, Mayor Sitti Djalia Turabin-Hataman instructed all relevant LGU offices to ensure a safe and orderly staging of this year’s edition of La Conmemoracion de Terremoto. (Words by M. Guerrero, CIO/Photos by KJ Evardo, IsaTV)
