By JAKE NARTE and JOY SEVILLA
 
KIAMBA, Sarangani (July 20, 2013) – A 71-year-old man, who had gone away from home for almost four decades, was finally reunited with his family here Saturday (July 20).
 
Governor Steve Chiongbian Solon made possible for Edelberto Guevarra to see his family again after 39 years of being away from them.
 
Gueverra landed at the General Santos City International Airport Saturday morning together with his younger sister, Helen, 49, who worked in Manila for several years.
 
Governor Solon facilitated Guevarra’s homecoming with Helen. The Guevarras were also assisted by Kiamba Natives Organization Worldwide, Inc. (KNOW), an organization from Kiamba, which gave counterpart for the plane ticket and with the support from Mayor Raul Martinez, who was tasked by the governor to ensure the safe return of Guevarra to his family.
 
Helen said she did not know that her brother was also in Manila until last week when his photo was posted on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=604253042947786&set=a.270650852974675.66859.100000892883094&type=1&theater by Cheryll Kay Serenina Amoloria, a college student in Cainta, Rizal. Amoloria is from Tupi, South Cotabato.
 
“Ang alam namin nasa Palawan siya nagtatrabaho, tapos wala na kaming balita sa kanya. Wala na kaming pag-asa na makita pa siya. Bigla na lang may isang taong tumulong sa kanya, si Cheryl Amoloria, isang estudyante. Si Manong (Edel) nakatira siya sa waiting shed (Cainta, Rizal) tapos itong si Cheryl tuwing dumadaan siya, nakikita niya si Manong doon,” Helen narrated.
 
She added it was only last July 17 when Amoloria interviewed Guevarra and took a picture of him which she later posted on Facebook.
 
Guevarra, his wife, Gloria and his two children, left Kiamba in 1974.
 
“Dahil sa kawalan at sa dami naming magkakapatid, siyam kaming lahat at ako ang panganay, umalis ako para maghanapbuhay. Nakarating ako sa Palawan kasama ng pamilya ko, doon ako nagtrabaho bilang karpintero. Nung namatay si (former President Ferdinand) Marcos, nagkahiwalay na kami ng pamilya ko, bumalik sila dito sa Kiamba tapos hindi nila alam na pumunta ako sa Maynila,” Guevarra said.
 
He added that when he was in Manila, he tried a lot of jobs.
 
“Lahat ng trabaho pinasok ko. Naging cable man pa ako, karpintero, construction worker, naging dispatcher din sa terminal. Hindi ko na nagawang sumulat sa pamilya ko dahil sa sakit ng ulo paano mabuhay, parang nakalimutan ko na paano sumulat,” he said.
 
A SURVIVOR
 
Teary-eyed Guevarra remembered how he survived living life on his own away from his family. He said he had eaten nothing but salt and water at times and he had suffered from mild stroke for three times.
 
“Matindi ang karanasan ko. Dalawang buwan akong di makalakad. Tatlong beses akong na-mild stroke. Gumagapang lang ako dun sa tinirhan kong kubo dati na walang tao. Sabi ko nga sa sarili ko, patay na ako, walang kain-kain, asin lang ang kinakain ko at tubig. Nung mga panahong yon, naisip ko na may Diyos. Natatak sa isip ko na basta wala kang ginagawang masama, mabubuhay ka. Hindi ako pinabayaan ng Diyos,” he recounted.
 
A THANKFUL SOUL
 
Guevarra expressed his heartfelt gratitude to Amoloria for her generosity and compassion. He said Amoloria was used as an instrument so he can go home to his family.
 
“Nagpapasalamat ako kay Cheryl Amoloria, sa lahat ng tumulong sa akin para makauwi pati na kay Governor Steve Chiongbian Solon at kay Ma’am Cora (Emery, president of KNOW) na nag-asikaso sa ticket ko, maraming salamat sa inyo,” he said.
 
Helen, on the other hand, also conveyed her appreciation to Governor Solon, who paid for her plane ticket.
 
“Kay Governor Steve, nagpapasalamat kami na sa pamamagitan ng tulong niya sa amin, nakabalik kami dito,” she said adding that she was not able to go home for the past eight years. For more news and updates, please visit the <a href= http://www.sarangani.gov.ph/ > Province of Sarangani </a> (Jake Narte and Joy Sevilla/SARANGANI INFORMATION OFFICE)