A TRIBUTE TO KATHRYN JOY LOMADILLA

Who can forget the most dreadful World disaster that happens in the year 2004? It was a month ago when the whole world was shocked by the news of a killer Tsunami that hits the countries of southeast asia and africa, a day after Christmas. Thousand of people perished the said catastrophe. Countries who are devastated are Sri Lanka, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Maldives, Bangladesh, Somalia and Thailand.

Sad to say that among those who lost their lives are our fellow Filipinos. These "Kababayan" of ours are working in this mentioned countries when the Tsunami hits their place. To be more specific one our Kababayan from Sorsogon was included in the list of those who died in that horrible killer wave.

Joy Lomadilla

KATHRYN JOY LOMADILLA, 22 years old of 8th st. OLV Pangpang was one of the thousand people who lost her life on the December 26 tragedy. KATHRYN JOY LOMADILLA was working as a Pro Choreographer in SOFITEL MAGIC LAGOON HOTEL located at KHAO LAK, PANG NGA PROVINCE,THAILAND. JOY (as she is commonly called) is only 5 months working in Thailand.

JOY was reportedly missing after several days when the Tsunami strucked Khao Lak, Thailand. JAY DECAYCO (Joy's Boyfriend) is also working in Thailand (Phuket) when the disaster happened, JAY survived the catastrophe. Right after the Tsunami, Jay try to contact Joy on her cellphone, but to no avail. Jay want to go to Khao Lak immediately but his employer don't permit to go due to some reason.

It was already December 29, 2004 when Jay has a chance to go to Khao Lak to checked what happen to Joy. Jay arrived at Sofitel Hotel and Joy's other companions tell him that Joy is missing,untill they a recieved a phone call telling them that they have Joy's body. A Thai Family mistakenly toke Joy's body and brought it to Bangkok knowing that it is their sister.

JAY immediately informed Joy's Family in the Philippines. That time (in the Philippines) Joy was reported in all TV and Radio through out the country,as still missing. Joy's older sister KRISTINE MAY LOMADILLA, who is a member of the BAYANIHAN DANCE TROOP started to look for a possible ways to flew to Bangkok. With the help of Mayor Lito Atienza (Mayor of Manila) Ambassador Antonio Rodriguez and Consol Bernie Candolada, KRISTINE flew to Thailand on New Year's day.

Finally KRISTINE MAY (Joy's sister) identified Joy's body at the Bangkok Hospital Morgue. It was only then that Joy's Family confirmed that she perished in that disaster. Joy's remains was cremated on January 4, 2005, present during the cremation are Ambassador Antonio Rodriguez, Ms.Grace Bañez (Philippine Embassy) Ms Edith Sethandha (Filipino Community) Kristine, Jay and Viralyn Torecampo.

January 6, 2005 when KRISTINE MAY left Thailand via Thai Airways and a few minutes after, JAY DECAYCO left Thailand too bringing the URN of Joy's ashes. Upon arriving Manila, Joy's URN was housed at Philippine Womens University Chapel, hosted by the BAYANIHAN PHILIPPINES FOLK DANCE COMPANY. For teh imformation of everybody, JOY LOMADILLA is already a member of the Bayanihan Dance Troop before she left for Thailand, in fact she already travelled with the group at Pusan,Korea. She only went to Thailand for a short termed contract.

Joy's urn was brought by her Family to Daraga,Albay since her Father is from that place. She stayed there for a couple days (Jan.08-09,2005}

KATHRYN JOY LOMADILA was born on November 27, 1983 and grew up in Sorsogon. Joy and her sister Kristine are the founder of BALLET DE SORSOGON, whom they founded, February 1997. BALLET DE SORSOGON became very famous in Sorsogon Province as far as Ballet and other Dances are concerned. A lot of young Ballerinas from different Schools was trained by JOY, being the Choreographer of Ballet de Sorsogon. Various Workshop and Recitals are conducted by Ballet de Sorsogon.

Indeed the contribution of KATHRYN JOY LOMADILLA's GOD given talent to SORSOGON will remain in the heart of her student and it will be a Legacy to be remembered.

A tribute concert was was conducted in memory of her. Ballet de Sorsogon lead the concert and supported by different groups, who in one way or another, touched by Joy's talent in one way or another.
The end part of the show is very emotional as JOY's student bid their farewell message to her. The said Tribute concert was held at the Sorsogon Capitol Park last January 12, 2005.

Now that KATHRYN JOY LOMADILLA is in the mighty hands of GOD, may she found eternal peace and joy. To you JOY our heartfelt gratitude for sharing your Talent to the people of Sorsogon. TO YOU KATHRYN JOY LOMADILLA, MAY YOU REST IN PEACE.


To be continued, for more about Kathryn Joy Lomadilla (1983 - 2004)