the Lowest Star

Almost a week after the sinking of MV Princess of the Stars off the coast of Romblon and Masbate, only about a hundred bodies have been found so far... out of the over 800 passengers and crew. One week has passed, over 700 still missing... 700 families grieving, not knowing what to do, what to expect.

I was deeply saddened over the news of this tragedy. I don't have any relatives on board, but I feel sad everytime I find out just 5 to 10 bodies are recovered daily. Just a few weeks ago, my officemates and I would joke it's the end of the world, because of the earthquakes, floods, volcanic eruption in China, Japan, Chile, Indonesia, Myanmar, US and many other countries. Now, it's the Philippines' turn.

Until now, I cannot comprehend the fact the ship sailed amid the storm. And that MV Princess of the Stars is actually one of the country's biggest and most luxurious passenger vessels. I guess you could consider it the Phillipine Titanic. And now it's gone, together with the lives it used to carry.

And now, the news that the sunken ship was carrying tons of pesticide made me more frustrated. Under the law, passenger vessels can't carry pesticides or chemicals, but here, it seems that law was violated. And the pesticide inside Princess of the Stars is not your ordinary chemical but a highly dangerous one... it is even banned in other countries. This makes rescue operations even harder. The community near the sunken vessel is also affected since now they can't eat fish anymore.

This tragedy, for me, is one of the worst in the Philippine maritime industry. A big ship sank due to the storm... and after a week, only a tenth of the passengers survived and even more remain missing. Plus there is the pesticide... preventing divers to retrieve the bodies for now.

I can't imagine what the relatives might be feeling right now, but I sure am angry and sad of the situation. Hope more survivors will be found soon and if there aint any... then I hope the bodies would be retrieved for a better resting place and I guess for closure on the part of the families. I also hope this would be the last tragedy and that lawmakers can make stricter laws on such maritime cases.

Let us continue praying.


ADVERTORIAL (click the link on the right):
Perspectives of a Bum- read a brief story about the sinking of Princess of the Stars, plus the other vessels of Sulpicio Lines that also sank.

Pasaporte- some light story on an unplanned trip to Tagaytay last year.

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Blockbuster Movie

The news on the Sulu Kidnapping indeed is like a movie that will surely generate millions of dollars in revenues. There are many twists, drama, action and politics. Not to mention the cast are not just ordinary people... but are Ces Drilon, 2 cameramen and a peace advocate and Mindanao State University professor. The media crew are also not just a local TV station, but a leading network in the country. The abductors are also not just ordinary group but is the infamous terrorist group Abu Sayyaf. Everything fits into a perfect screenplay of a blockbuster movie.

Ces Drilon and her team were kidnapped. At first there was silence since ABS-CBN didn't broadcast the story yet due to fears it might compromise the lives of the crew. Then the news exploded one morning. It was everywhere- print, TV, radio and online. Indanan Mayor Isnaji became the emissary who negotiated with the Abu Sayyaf. A P15M ransom was demanded and has until Tuesday 12 noon or else they will behead the TV crew... including Ces Drilon.

Then just hours after the given deadline, the team was freed. It was learned Sen. Loren Legarda was involved in the negotiations... as well the Interior and Local Government Department and the security forces of the AFP and PNP.

The twists doesn't end there. The emissary Mayor Isnaji is now being charged of taking part of the kidnapping. Authorities say he pocketed P3M of the P5M ransom given by the family of Ces. One must also remember that during the height of the kidnapping, Isnaji said he will quit as emissary if the ransom will not be given.. (sounds so un-emissary like, huh?). To add to the story, Isnaji is actually running for governor of ARMM in a few months.

There were also reports that the Mindanao State University professor, who was also kidnapped, was said to have been part of the kidnapping group. Some say he betrayed the group of Ces and led them to the kidnappers. There were also reports that the driver of Ces in Sulu also betrayed them. Of course, these are still unverified reports.

The story doesn't end when Ces and her team were freed. A lot of questions were raised if indeed the mayor was part of the abductors, how much ransom was actually given, who were the kidnappers, and a lot more. Stories of betrayal, freedom and mystery continues to engulf this tale.

One good thing is that Ces and her team: cameramen Angelo Valderama and Jimmy Encarnacion, as well as Prof. Octavio Dinampo are all safe. ABS-CBN, true to its slogan "walang iwanan" gave a welcome party for the 3 media crew.

Hopefully this ends the kidnapping and murder of journalists around the world.

*some pictures during the ABS-CBN's Welcome Back party for Ces and team

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robbery in Ateneo

It saddened me... when I read the Guidon story on the robbery inside Ateneo. Two freshies plus a sophomore were robbed of laptops and cellphones inside the school... specifically at the Cervini waiting shed. They were hurt and the robber rode inside a getaway vehicle and drove off. In a school as prestigious as Ateneo, this story is very shocking. Although there were many cases before... I just thought the school would have implemented more serious security, especially since students pay hundreds and thousands of pesos per year. What was more shocking is the fact it happened so near the dormitory (and the church).

I just hope Ateneo would work on its security efforts. The students are already bombarded by academic and org activities... and I think worrying on their safety inside campus just adds to the stress all Ateneans face.

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Bandila

I just had my very first own report on TV. No, I didn't appear on the tube. But for the first time, I wrote my own report, and researched on it as well as interviewed a person over the phone for confirmation. I usually voiced reports almost everyday. But it's the first time I voiced a report entirely my own. It was aired in almost all news programs on ANC on June 12.

My story was an Independence Day special report on the flag. It focuses on the proper decorum in dealing with the Philippine flag. Many people don't know that there is such a thing as Republic Act 8491 or the Flag and Heraldic Code of the Philippines. There is actually a law on how to respect a flag. And mind you, there is a minimum one year in jail for violators and a fine of P5,000-20,000.

It is very important for Filipinos to respect the flag. It may just be a piece of cloth, but that piece of cloth happens to bring together almost 90 million people worldwide. That piece of cloth has help made this nation free. And hopefully that piece of cloth would further unite a country so divided.

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