Surigao-bound ship survives stormy seas; 296 passengers safe

SURIGAO CITY — Passengers of a Surigao-bound ship caught in the middle of stormy seas last Friday said they thought they would not make it back to shore alive.

“I told God that I want to spend Christmas with my family in Siargao,” John Erwin Migullas of General Luna town in Siargao Island said after he and 295 other passengers survived the huge waves that battered “M/V Dumaguete” from Cebu.

The Cokaliong Shipping

Lines’ “M/V Dumaguete” left Cebu City around 8:30 p.m. Thursday instead of 7 p.m. and was expected to arrive at 6 a.m. Friday in Surigao City. The ship arrived 13 hours later past 7 p.m.

At the port, Helene Cortes Ortuyo, 65, of Carrascal town in Surigao del Sur waited early Friday morning to fetch her daughter Rexy May, and her twoyear-old granddaughter, Carlie.

“Grabe na nako nga kabalaka, sigi na gyod ko og ampo nga unta maluwas ra sila” (I was so worried I kept praying they would be saved), Ortuyo said.

Ship captain Roger Flores told this writer they were cleared by the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) in Cebu to make the trip. “All I can say is we were cleared,” he said.

Tropical depression Urduja was slowly approaching Samar on Thursday morning. In its severe weather bulletin issued at 5 p.m. Thursday, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) raised storm Signal No. 1 over northern Cebu, including Bantayan Island, Catanduanes, Camarines Sur, Albay, Sorsogon, Masbate, Romblon, Northern Samar, Leyte, Southern Leyte, Capiz, Aklan, and northern Iloilo.

“Almost all passengers threw up,” said Kate Owen Smith of London.

Smith complained the crew did not aid passengers who were seasick. “They should have given plastic bags for those who were throwing up,” she said.

Another passenger, Ritchel Fortus, a Surigao City-based entrepreneur who was one of the passengers, said “the boat navigated in another direction to avoid a possible mishap.” Fortus said they sought shelter in Camiguin island, had breakfast at 11 a.m. and lunch at 4 p.m.

The crew cheered as they stepped out of the gangplank. “Yey! Grabe ka dagko ang balod. Survive ra kaayo mi” (Waves were so huge. But we all survived),” Jhamor Cuerda, a member of the crew said.

Tony Espina, manager of Cokaliong branch here, thanked the crew for bringing the passengers safely to their destination.

13 HOURS LATE – The M/V Dumaguete arrives in Surigao City Friday night from Cebu City. The ship was supposed to arrive in Surigao at 6 a.m., but was delayed for 13 hours because of the worsening weather. (Roel Catoto)