ILOILO City – Families of Western Visayan seafarers working in a China-bound cargo ship that sank in the stormy waters of Japan on Sept. 2 remain hopeful they would be found alive.
The Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) said 10 of the Panamanian-flagged vessel Gulf Livestock 1’s 39 Filipino crewmembers were from Region 6. The others were New Zealanders (two), Australian (one) and Singaporean (one).
Of these 10 Western Visayan seamen, eight were from Iloilo province, one from Iloilo City and one from Bacolod City.
Their 11,947-ton freighter – loaded with nearly 6,000 live cattle – left the port of Napier in New Zealand on Aug. 14 for the port of Tangshan in China. The journey was expected to take about 17 days but the ship encountered a typhoon.
“Right now we have confirmed roughly 10 Western Visayan seafarers from the ill-fated ship. But verification is ongoing. Kay ang database of the local manning agency naga-reflect nga NCR (National Capital Region) gindala nga addresses yet may mga claims ang pila ka himata nga they actually came from Region 6,” said OWWA Region 6 director Rizza Joy Moldes.
Some of their families have come forward and identified them: Andren Payas of Bacolod City; Leonido Turija Jr. of Barangay Cagbang, Oton, Iloilo; Mark Glenn Suñer of Santa Barbara, Iloilo; Marlo Gallardo of Zarraga, Iloilo; Darwin Hulk Alcazar of La Paz, Iloilo City; Richard Garvilles, 31, of Guimbal, Iloilo; Jay Pilota of Pototan, Iloilo; and Ramil Pelenia, also of Pototan.
Citing assurances from OWWA administrator Hans Leo Cacdac, Moldes said their agency would be extending support to the seafarers and their families.
“Sa mga himata sa mga seafarers nga didto sa barko, palihog magpalapit sa amon talatapan para whatever information halin sa consulate sa Japan we will be able to relay to them,” said Moldes.
According to Yohan Mae Garvilles, sister of seaman Richard Garvilles of Guimbal, Iloilo, her brother had been working abroad international ships these past six years.
Moments before their ship sank, Richard was able to contact his wife to say that water had entered their ship, said Yohan Mae.
On Saturday, the Japanese Coast Guard halted its search and rescue operation for the missing crewmembers of Gulf Livestock 1 as Typhoon Haishen headed towards the southwestern island of Kyushu.
Meanwhile, it reported that two Filipino survivors have been in contact with their r espective families. The first to be rescued was the ship’s chief officer Eduardo Sareno of Oslob, Cebu.
Another survivor, identified as Jay-Nel Rosales of Cebu, was rescued alone in a life raft and was the third person to be found at sea since their freighter sent a distress call.
According to the Japanese Coast Guard, a body was found face down on the ocean Friday morning last week. However, the person’s identity could not be confirmed due to the condition of the remains.
Rowillyn Turija, wife of seaman Leonido Turija Jr. of Oton, Iloilo, said her husband regularly called their children but failed to do so last week.
She also said Korpil Shipmanagement and Manning Corp. confirmed to her that the ship which sank in Japan on Sept. 2 was her husband’s ship.
“The Philippine Embassy in Tokyo, the Philippine Consulate General in Osaka, and the Philippine Overseas Labor Office continue to monitor and coordinate the situation with the Japanese Coast Guard, shipowner, and the manning agency to extend all appropriate support for the Filipino seafarers and their families,” the Department of Foreign Affairs said.
Clarissa Suñer, wife of seaman Mark Glenn Suñer of Santa Barbara, said her husband was able to contact her through the Messenger mobile phone application on the night of Sept. 1 at around 9:33 p.m.
Working as the ship’s junior electrician, he asked for prayers because of an approaching typhoon, said Clarissa.
Mark Glenn, a seaman these past five years, boarded Gulf Livestock 1 just this July, said Clarissa.
Since all the ill-fated ship’s Filipino crew members are active members of OWWA, they are entitled to all benefits and assistance due to distressed members, according to Labor secretary Silvestre Bello III in Manila.
Loramae Gallardo, wife of Zarraga, Iloilo seaman Marlo Gallardo, said her husband would have turned 29 years old on Sept. 4.
Loramae is nine months pregnant and is expected to give birth any time soon. She hopes her husband would be able to come home safely and see their baby.
For her part, Arly Alcazar, mother of seaman Darwin Hulk Alcazar of La Paz district here, said her son returned to work just two months ago.
She was hoping and praying that her son would be found alive and safe./PN
