MANILA, Philippines - Life vests and a rubber boat saved the lives of 28 passengers of MV Princess of Stars, according to some survivors of the ship that capsized over the weekend off Sibuyan Island.

In an exclusive report by Susan Enriquez of Unang Hirit, the survivors said 30 of the passengers originally got on the life raft. However, one passenger without a life vest fell and was carried away by the waves.

While they were nearing the coast of a village in Mulanay, Quezon, another passenger also got too excited and removed his life vest. However, the strong waves and winds carried the passenger away and eventually drowned.

The survivors said the ship started rocking unsteadily before Saturday noon, saying there appeared to be no signs of damage until they heard the captain’s warning. The survivors jumped into the rubber boat after grabbing life vests Saturday afternoon.

Jimmy Relativo, one of the 28 survivors, tearfully recounted how he was separated from his girlfriend amidst the panic.

“Sabi niya mauna ka na lang (She told me to go ahead)," Relativo said. “Paglingon ko sa kanya di ko na nakita e (When I looked back I didn’t see her anymore)."

Another survivor, Jonathan Pendon, said he sustained wounds from the raging winds and from clinging to the rubber boat.

“Naging successful yung ano namin, yung journey namin sa laot kasi meron kaming mga seaman na kasama na alam nila i-maneuver yung life raft na sinasakyan namin (Our journey onto the seashore was successful because we were with some seamen who knew how to maneuver the life raft)," said Susan Lesbo, another survivor.

The survivors are currently under the care of local government of Mulanay, Quezon.

“Nakahanda naman ang mga mamamayan ng buong Quezon na tumulong sa kanila para makarating sa kanialng mga minamahal sa buhay" said Senior Superintendent Fidel Posadas, Philippine National Police Provincial Director of Quezon.

He added that residents have been alerted to watch out for more survivors that may reach the shore. - Johanna Camille Sisante, GMANews.TV

pirti nga tragedy migs...849 ang sakay..so far pila pa lang ang narecover.. :(

28/849 = 3.3% survival rate *no *no *no

survival rate so far

its 4+4+28+40 = 76 out of 862.......8.8%... hope to have more...

tsk tsk...madala ang US mabulig pangrescue kuno migs ah!! I hope mapadasig ang pagrescue... :thumb: :thumb: :thumb:

Think Positive lang ta nga most of them survives! :thumb:

Reality bites... :(

Grabe ka subo... most of the passengers were trap inside the ship....
wala naka lumpat... I doubt kung may mabuhi pa sa sulod sang sini nga barko...



Oh Good Lord...

out of 700+ passengers

Around 30 ang infants...
and Around 20 ang children...

grabeh, so shocking gid ang ini nga news.. dutay pa lang gid tu-od ang survivors.. tani madugangan pa to-od ang mga ma-rescue nila.. :(

accdg sa isa ka survivor sa news, laban sa mga pasahero na-trap sa ila mga kwarto.. God will make a way! :thumb:

Let's pray together mga abyan!!

Dear Lord, Please help your children to survive in the MV Princess of Stars tragedy. We know Lord that we are sinners. Please forgive us for the sins that we have commited. Dear God, we know that many your children seeking your help because it is in your hands.Our future is in your Hands, Lord. Please give them strength,hope and speed up their assistance. And guide the rescuers and give them patient so that more will be recovered.

Help us oh Lord. We ask this Lord though Christ Our Lord,our Saviour, your Son, who died for us and lives in Your kingdom.

AMEN

Dead 70

Survived 48

Missing 744 :( :( :(

Retrieval of endosulfan from 'Princess' to start Sept. 1, says official
07/25/2008 | 04:25 PM


MANILA, Philippines — A company hired by Sulpicio Lines Inc. (SLI) to retrieve dangerous chemicals and bunker fuel inside the capsized M/V “Princess of the Stars" would likely start operations only on September 1, the Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) said on Friday.

Undersecretary Elena Bautista said SLI, owner of the ill-fated inter-island vessel, signed a $7.5 million contract with Titan Salvage on Thursday night, but the salvage company said it will start mobilizing personnel and equipment only after the shipping firm gives the down payment.

Bautista said Titan has given SLI up to 10 banking days to produce the $3.5 million down payment.

She said the mobilization would take 21 days and only until then can Titan start the retrieval operations, which they are expected to finish within another 21 days.

Bautista also explained that the contract covers only the retrieval of tons of bunker fuel, hydrocarbon and endosulfan pesticides owned by Del Monte Philippines Incorporated and Bayer Crop Science.

Titan intends to dig a hole on the side of the ship where the cargos are located.

Edgar Go, SLI senior first vice president, said his firm has been talking with the Philippine Technical Divers to handle retrieval of bodies but the priority as of this time, is the retrieval of the chemicals.

Titan, however, agreed to get bodies that their divers would find during the toxic retrieval operations for “humanitarian reasons."

Go said SLI has coordinated with the Philippine Technical Divers for the retrieval of the bodies which would start immediately after the toxic cargo has been recovered.

Search and retrieval operations were halted after the 10-metric tons of endosulfan were found loaded onto the capsized ferry. - GMANews.TV

http://www.gmanews.tv/story/109384/Retriev...1-says-official

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