At Carreta Cemetery 2GO pays respect to collision victims

CEBU, Philippines – While the people commemorate the death of their departed loved ones on Saints’ Day and All Souls’ Day, employees of 2GO Group Inc. paid tribute to the 42 still unidentified victims of the tragic sea collision last year.

The shipping company’s vice president, Lito Salvio, said they offered candles and flowers to the graves of the victims at Carreta Cemetery.

He said they assigned two persons who will monitor the graves from Saturday to Sunday.

Carreta Cemetery administrator and caretaker Jesus Desuyo said the cemetery’s administration also assigned guards to roam and check around the place especially the victims’ graves.

Salvio said they also offered at least seven masses for the collision victims.

Last Friday, at 6 p.m. mass at the Sto. Rosario Church along P. Del Rosario St., Cebu City was offered for them.

Yesterday, six masses were also offered for the victims at the Redemptorist Church at 7 a.m., Cebu Metropolitan Cathedral at 3 p.m., St. Joseph the Patriarch Parish at 5:15 p.m., Basilica Minore del Sto. Niño at 5:30 p.m., Most Sacred Heart of Jesus at 6 p.m., and at the St. Joseph Shrine in Mandaue City at 7 p.m.

“We will be offering mass as well at Carreta (Cemetery) Chapel on November 1 & November 2, 3p.m mass communal,” said Salvio.

The FREEMAN visited the victims’ graves yesterday morning but did not see any of their relatives.

Desuyo said he did not also see any grave visitors in the afternoon.

Over a hundred passengers and crew of 2GO’s MV St. Thomas Aquinas died after it collided with cargo vessel Sulpicio Express Siete of the Philippine Span Asia Carrier Corporation at Lawis Ledge, Talisay City on the evening of August 16, 2013.

The ferry was carrying 832 crew and passengers when it met the accident.

Based on earlier reports, there are still around 21 missing bodies, which are believed to be still inside the sunken vessel.

The FREEMAN also visited yesterday the tombs of almost 40 unidentified victims of the MV Princess of the Stars that sank off Sibuyan Island in Romblon during typhoon Frank in 2008. More than 300 passengers and crew died.

No flowers or candles were offered yet on their graves.

Desuyo said they might be transferring the bodies soon since it is more than five years already but the bodies remain unclaimed.

“Lima na ka tuig, so pipila na ka buwan mailisan na namo kay apikihan mi sa nitso dinhi, mahabwa na sila,” he said. (FREEMAN)