Ilonggo survivor of ship sinking in Vietnam returns home

CEBU, Philippines -  It was a bittersweet homecoming for the lone Ilonggo survivor of the cargo ship that sank off Vietnam on January 2.

Angelito Rojas, a native of Tubungan town in Iloilo and chief cook of the ill-fated motor vessel Bulk Jupiter, was of mixed emotions: Happy for surviving the tragedy but sad on what happened to his fellow workers.

In a press conference arranged by his manning agency, Magsaysay Maritime Corporation, on Wednesday evening, Rojas recounted the January 2 tragedy.

Rojas said things happened so fast after the ship listed on its side. He then jumped from the ship together with ship captain Ronel Acueza Andrin of Quezon province.

“I could not remember what happened. Everything was so sudden. I did not know what happened to the other crew when I abandoned ship,” he added.

Of the 19 crew, only two were confirmed dead: Andrin and third officer Jerome Maquilang Dinoy. The 16 other crew were still missing, including two more Ilonggos: ship’s motorman, Rosilo Sansolis, and wiper Gilbert Flora.

Rojas said his memories of the fateful morning of January 2 were hazy. While taking his morning coffee, he heard a distress alarm and all crewmen were told to proceed to where the life rafts were. He claimed to have grabbed a life jacket before he took a plunge.

Rojas was adrift for nine hours before he was rescued. Prayers and a strong will to survive helped him emerged alive, he said.

A graduate of Western Institute of Technology, the 42-year-old seaman is a father to two daughters, and a 20-year veteran to his overseas job.  (FREEMAN)