SAIPAN -- The dream of seeing his two children in Davao City again after six years ended for a 30-year-old farmer after he drowned while spear fishing off the reefs at Micro Beach, Saipan Wednesday morning.

The remains of the victim, Armando Alampayan of Boulevard, Davao City will be buried here next week, according to a family member.

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CNMI Department of Public Safety (DPS) information officer Jason T. Tarkong said the victim had no pulse and was no longer breathing when DPS Medics administered cardiopulmonary resuscitation when he was brought to shore at about 11:34 a.m. on Wednesday.

Alampayan's uncle Linel Aureo said Alampayan had been wishing to see his children again for a long time.

Aureo said Alampayan took care of the two children when his wife went to Japan but his wife took the children back to Davao City when she returned from Japan.

Alampayan has not seen his children again.

Alampayan's children are now eight and seven years old, Aureo said. He added they are planning to bury Alampayan in Saipan on Nov. 12.

"Alampayan's mother, my sister, is having a very hard time accepting his son's death. She is still in shock," Aureo said.

Aureo said they have a house in Boulevard, Davao City and another house in Nabunturan.

He added Alampayan's father just passed away last month. His mother just returned to Saipan from the Philippines for a heart surgery. Aureo's two sisters, one of whom had just undergone gall bladder removal and is now pregnant, and one who is recuperating from breast cancer, were both admitted to the Commonwealth Health Center (CHC) on Wednesday after they learned of their nephew's death.

"It's one misfortune after another, and we don't know what to do next," Aureo said. He added they already got in touch with the Philippine Consulate office, who promised to assist them.

Aureo said that he is not sure if Alampayan has renewed his membership with the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration, which requires a $25 membership insurance fee for each contract.

Preliminary investigations revealed that Alampayan was spear fishing with three other local males at Micro Beach at about 8:00 a.m. on Wednesday.

At around 11 a.m., one of the fishermen who partnered up with Alampayan and identified only as Ryan headed back towards shore because his feet got sore.

"Both men were in the reef line and started heading towards shore but they got further apart from each other," Tarkong said.

Investigation further revealed that Ryan heard Alampayan shouting and waving his hands in the air. Ryan added Alampayan threw his mask and snorkel away and signaled for help.

When a boat passed by, Ryan said he sought help and he was pulled onto the boat by the captain. They then proceeded to the area where Alampayan was last seen. They failed to locate Alampayan.

Tarkong added that another boat driven by Windsurfing Saipan Marine Sports, Captain Dwayne Pangelinan, assisted in the search.

An employee/passenger on the boat, Ron Chisato dove into the water and recovered Alampayan's body at the bottom, which was about 10-12 feet deep.

The rescuers pulled Alampayan onto the boat and administered CPR. He was later transported to the CHC but he was pronounced dead by Dr. Trent Scheibe at 12:05 p.m. (Raquel C. Bagnol/Variety News, Saipan)