Tuesday, June 24, 2008 Bugo resident among 38 survivors By Annabelle L. Ricalde
THE last text message received by Farah Guinitaran from her husband, Marlon, was that the ferry he boarded was taking shelter in Romblon Island after they were buffeted by strong winds and huge waves caused by typhoon Frank.
"Nia nami Romblon. Kusog ang bawod pero ok ra ko. Take care," the text said. Guinitaran received the text around 8 a.m. Saturday.
Three hours later, at 11:45 a.m., the 23,824-ton mv Princess of Stars that was traveling from Manila to Cebu ran aground a few kilometers off central Sibuyan Island and then capsized.
Only 38 wave-battered passengers and crew made it to shore as of this writing Monday. Marlon was not among those accounted for.
Guinitaran, a resident of Balingasag town, Misamis Oriental, has no inkling of the tragedy until late Sunday afternoon when news of the capsized ferry was aired over the radio and TV.
"Na shock ko pagkabalo. I don't know what to do," Guinitaran told Sun.Star Cagayan de Oro.
She has not heard of Marlon since the last text message that she received.
Guinitaran said her husband promised to text her if their ship arrives in Cebu City. There was no text message though.
"Kabalo man gud siya molangoy ug gatuo pud ko og mga signs, so feeling gyud nako buhi akong bana mao gani nga sige ko paminaw og news sa radio ug TV (He knows how to swim and I believe in signs, so I think my husband is alive, that's why I kept on listening to news on radio and television)," she said.
Guinitaran said her husband went to Manila to apply for a work abroad and since there was no boat for Cagayan de Oro, he took passage on the ill-fated ferry.
Rescuers found 38 survivors clinging to life rafts including Army Sergeant Rupert Tan of Barangay Bugo, this city.
Rechie, wife of Tan, was very happy when she received a call from Rupert that he survived and is now confined in a hospital in Lucena City.
"Di nako mabalaka pero nangawala daw tanan niyang bagahe (I am not bothered anymore, but he said his things were lost)," she said.
Rechie said her husband was traveling with her elder sister, Sozette Osorio, 32, and her cousin Jecel Miguel, 23.
"Okay na pud silang Sozette og Jecel. Nakasakay daw og baruto pero wala mi kabalo og asa sila napadpad (Sozette and Jecel are also fine, but we don't know now of their whereabouts)," she said.
Rechie said her husband was traveling home to report to his new assignment at the 10th Army Division in Panacan, Davao City. Since Rupert was going to Davao City, Sozette and Jecel, who both hail from the same place, tagged along, she said.
In the list of survivors that Sulpicio Lines published in its website, www.sulpiciolines.com, Sozette and Jecel, however, were not included.
Coast Guard chief Vice Admiral Wilfredo Tamayo said rescuers might have to create a hole in the ship to allow divers access to an area where many aboard the ferry were believed to have been trapped.
But he added that rescue workers would have to operate carefully because the ferry also was carrying a cargo of bunker oil that could leak out.
Coast Guard frogmen, who managed to get to the stricken ship, got no response when they rapped on the hull with metal instruments, then had to give up late Sunday due to the strong waves.
"We're not ruling out that somebody there is still alive," Tamayo said. "You can never tell."
Tamayo said 28 more survivors were found in Mulanay township in eastern Quezon province late Sunday, about 130 kilometers from where they ferry sank. Ten others struggled to shore earlier.
Manila's dzBB radio said the 28 people, including four crewmen and three women, drifted at sea for more than 24 hours wearing life jackets.
Officials were checking reports that a large number of survivors might have reached one nearby island, Coast Guard spokesman Commander Antonio Cuasito said. (With Sunnex/AP)
