Mercy Tundag, president of the Almers Compound Neighborhood Association, however, said the talks of a miraculous image is a hoax and Alvarez' group is just capitalizing on the fear that people still feel after the 7.2 magnitude earthquake that hit Cebu and Bohol last October 15 by spreading rumors about a miracle.
Tundag told The Freeman that people started coming to their place after a post in a social networking site spoke of a miraculous image in their compound chapel.
Botir, who welcomed Alvarez' group into her home, told The Freeman that Alvarez and his group first sought shelter at a chapel of an abandoned factory nearby then moved to the chapel of Paradise Home, before ending up at Almers Compound, where they were also turned away by chapel officials. Botir said that she agreed to provide shelter for Alvarez' group in the hopes that she would be cured of an ailment.
Fe Librero, another resident, said people from as far as Tabuelan in northern Cebu have come to their place since the rumor started. Librero said she had to answer queries from kibitzers on where Botir's house is located. She, however, said that she does not believe that the image is miraculous.
Alvarez, meanwhile, denied spreading rumors that the image of the Virgin Mary was miraculous, saying that although he has a firm faith on the Holy Mother, he has not experienced the "miracle" that residents are speaking of.
The homeowners association has already drafted a resolution asking Alvarez and his group to leave the compound after the supposed miracle brought them so much inconvenience. Tundag said she feels sorry for the people who were led to believe that the image is miraculous, especially those who come from far places.
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