Real Pinoy hero forgotten
TODAY, Seafarer’s Sunday, reminds me of the story of a gallant and heroic Filipino seafarer. Sometime in March 2002 off Cartegena while ANDY MORATILLO, 31, and a fellow crew member were gazing at the vast ocean from the bridge of their ship M/T Ynca, they were startled to see a boat bobbing and battling the rough waters. There were at least three men aboard, frantically waving their hands at them.
* * * Moratillo, who hails from Donsol, Sorsogon, related this experience when he was a guest in our Sunday teleradyo program “Salitang Buhay” 8:30-10pm.
“We immediately reported to our ship captain what we saw,” Moratillo went on. The captain immediately ordered the ship to come closer to the stricken boat.
* * * But while the ship was trying to maneuver closer, Moratillo had already jumped into the water for fear their big ship might bump the smaller one or the ship’s propellers slash their boat.
After almost three turns, the men aboard threw life rings to Moratillo and the distressed boat passengers.
One of the survivors attempted to swim and grab the life ring. Unfortunately, due to exhaustion the man could not reach the swaying monkey ladder that was lowered on the side of their huge ship.
* * * Seeing his predicament, Moratillo swam, got hold of the ladder, and bodily carried the weak survivor, who was bigger than himself, up the monkey ladder.
The second survivor followed suit with the help of Moratillo and the other crew members on the ship’s deck.
Exhausted after saving the second man, Moratillo rested on board for a while. He realized he had not yet taken his lunch then. * * * A few minutes later a little commotion ensued when the third man was seen losing his grip on their capsized boat. Despite his ebbing strength, Moratillo again jumped into the water, dived underwater and surfaced with the third man in tow.
Holding the man, he swam closer to the ship to reach for the monkey ladder which was swaying to and fro due to the slashing winds but he couldn’t do it as he was physically drained.
* * * Seeing his condition, the crew on board threw ropes to strap the two and then gingerly pulled them up to the ship’s deck.
The survivors, who were Columbians, told the rescuers they had a fourth companion tied to their boat. However, when the crew looked down, the boat had sunk under the choppy waters.
Their ship Ynca continued its trip to Panama.
* * * But here’s the SADDEST PART. Some months later, Moratillo learned that the Ynca Greek Master and a Filipino marine officer were cited by AMVER team for heroism in a starstudded affair.
* * * There the captain was recognized for heroism in saving the three Columbian men from the treacherous waters off Cartegena.
The name of the real hero, who risked his life in losing no time to jump overboard was not even mentioned in the awarding rite.
* * * On September 24, 2006, Seafarer’s Sunday, Andy Moratillo was awarded “Most Outstanding Seafarer for Valor” honoring other Filipino seafarers at the Luneta Grandstand courtesy of the Apostleship of the Sea apostolate headed by Director Fr. Savino Bernardi, CS.
* * * Life is sometimes unfair. Andy planted; somebody else harvested. This is just one of the sad experiences Filipino seafarers encounter in providing services abroad and doing sacrifices for their families and the country.
Seafarer Andy makes us all Filipinos truly proud. MABUHAY!