Rescuers offer candles, flowers for unidentified sea mishap victims

CEBU, Philippines - Rescuers who helped in the search operations after the sinking of M/V St. Thomas Aquinas last Aug. 16 offered prayers and candles at the mass burial sites dedicated to unidentified fatalities of the sunken M/V Princess of the Stars and M/V St. Thomas Aquinas inside Carrera Cemetery last night.

The group was composed of representatives from the Cebu City Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office (CCDRRMO), Philippine Red Cross, Kabalikat Civicom, and volunteer rescuers.

"These are the same responders specifically during the 2Go and Sulpicio (vessels') sea mishap. We are lighting candles for these unidentified casualties para mahinumduman nato sila (to remember them) especially that we know there have not been much who are offering candles and prayers. The mayor was here yesterday (Nov. 1) to also offer prayers," said CCDRRMO Operations Head Alvin Santillana.

The group lighted 94 candles, 47 of which were for the victims of 2GO's M/V St. Thomas Aquinas, which sank after colliding with cargo vessel M/V Sulpicio Express Siete off Lawis Ledge in Talisay City an hour before its scheduled stopover in Cebu from its Nasipit to Manila trip.

The remaining candles were for the victims of the sinking of Sulpicio Lines' M/V Princess of the Stars who were buried in 2008 in similar-apartment-type niches nearby.

No relatives of the missing and unidentified casualties have showed up to offer candles and flowers on the graves the rescuers visited last night in both All Saints' and All Souls' Days.

An employee, whom 2Go earlier assigned to man and assist at the mass burial site, told reporters last night that he has not noticed any one showing up.

A cemetery worker echoed the same observation, saying he did not see people visiting except for local officials.  (FREEMAN)