Praise, help pour for hero chief mate

CEBU, Philippines - Two Cebu City councilors will pass a resolution today to formally commend the heroic act of Rudyard Payusan, the chief mate of a cargo ship who lost his right foot while helping rescue passengers of the motorized banca that capsized off Liloan town last Friday night.

Councilors Alvin Dizon and Nendell Hanz Abella are also asking the city government to extend financial assistance to Payusan who is now recuperating at the Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center.

“Mr. Payusan’s heroic act saved the lives of the 27 people aboard M/B Mansan but on the process his right foot was severed,” the councilors said.

M/B Mansan capsized late evening Friday but it was only after about eight hours that the passengers were rescued from the sea.

Vice Mayor Edgardo Labella, a survivor at sea, said he will do his best to give Payusan an award and cash assistance if allowed by auditing rules.

“Atong tabangan na because some of those victims are mostly from Pasil. So, we will seriously consider him giving an award and if allowed by the rules, we will give cash assistance,” Labella said.

“We have to give recognition for his heroic act. I will also ask one member of the City Council to pass a resolution commending Cokaliong Shipping Lines for helping the rescue operation,” he added.

Labella was a councilor in 1998 when the ship he was riding, the Princess of the Orient of Sulpicio Lines, capsized in the seawaters off Batangas on October 18 while traveling from Manila to Cebu. He was rescued after floating in cold waters for 36 hours with the help of a ring-type lifesaving equipment.

Meanwhile, Dizon said it was during his visit to Payusan last Monday and Tuesday when he remembered that they were classmates in their undergraduate degree program Customs Administration at Cebu Central Colleges, now University of Cebu.

“Akong na-remember niya nga jolly kaayo. Karon, mo-manifest gihapon sa iyang pagkatao nga smiling gihapon bisan og naputlan na og tiil. Akoy naguol niya,” Dizon said.

“Imagine ha nga rough waters pero wala siya matarantar. Sige gihapon siya og encourage sa pasahero nga dili mawagtangan og paglaum kay naay moabot nga rescue. Grabe gyod iyang kaisog,” Dizon said.

Payusan had said his company, LCT Golden Crescent, promised he will have a job to go back to when he becomes well.

"Wa hinoon ko kahibalo unsa nga trabaho nga ihatag nila. Basta kay hatagan ko nila og trabaho," he said.

Yesterday, Senator Alan Peter Cayetano extended financial help to Payusan.

His chief political officer for Visayas, Rey Martinez, handed the help personally to Payusan at the hospital.

Cayetano also approved the scholarships of Payusan's three children, two of whom are in college while another is in elementary.

"Salamat kaayo sa tabang ni Senator Cayetano. Wa ni nako damha nga tabang," Payusan said.

Payusan recalled his ordeal at sea while trying to save the lives of the 27 passengers, who were mostly old folks.

"Pagputol sa akong tiil, igo na na lang ko niyukbo sa Ginoo nga unta iyaha kong tabangan. Kay unsa-on na lang ang akong mga anak og mawagtang ko," Payusan said.

Payusan said he does not regret his decision despite losing his foot. — (FREEMAN)