By Aquiles Z. Zonio
“Nothing could fill the poignant void left by the untimely disappearance of my brother. But this Christmas presents somehow cheered us up,” said the 25-year old Edward Sayson, a resident of Barangay Fatima, General Santos City.
Edward’s elder brother, Ronel, a fisherman employed under LPS Fishing, perished while aboard a fishing boat during the typhoon Pablo.
Based on the data from the Task Force Maritime Search & Rescue-GenSar, a total of 372 fishermen and 47 fishing vessels from eight different fishing companies in General Santos City were lost during the tragedy.
The Task Force added that out of 372, 351 are still missing up to this time.
The search & rescue was stopped due to Tropical storm Quinta which made a landfall in Leyte Wednesday morning.
“The search & rescue operation will continue after the storm. Our air and sea crafts suspended the search due to strong winds and big waves in the high seas,” Navy Capt. Lued Lincuna, operations chief of the Task Force, said.
Pamaskong handog…
The Mindanao Development Authority (MinDa, the city government Of General Santos and the provincial government of Sarangani initiated a Christmas get together for the families of missing fishermen at the Antonio C. Acharon Memorial Sports Complex in Calumpang village on Sunday.
Other agencies like the Socsksargen Federation of Fishing & Allied Industries, Inc. (SFFAII), General Santos City Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Inc. (GSCCCII), Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR), Police Regional Office-12 and giant television network ABS-CBN joined in the activity dubbed “Pamaskong Handog.”
Vicky Magante, City Social Welfare Officer, claimed that 322 families showed up during the holding of “Pamaskong Handog.”
The activities kicked off with a Holy Mass officiated by Fr. Joy Pelino from the Justice & Peace Desk of the Diocese of Marbel.
Other activities included storytelling and parlor games for children, psycho-social debriefing and distribution of relief goods.
MinDa chair Sec. Luwalhati Antonino said “Pamaskong Handog” was initiated to make the families of missing fishermen happy during Christmas Eve.
“This would hardly fill the emptiness brought about by the absence of your loved ones. But we hope this could somehow make you feel happy despite of what happened,” Antonino said.
Antonino added this only shows that the government – both local and national – is not remiss in doing its duty in taking care of the families of missing fishermen.
The MinDa chair bared that President Aquino, himself, is closely monitoring the progress of the search & rescue operation.
Outpouring of support…
Mayor Darlene Antonino-Custodio thanked the various agencies which participated in last Sunday’s “Pamaskong Handog.”
“The outpouring of support coming from various sectors was truly surprising and heartwarming. I hope, this would make the families of the victims even stronger. You are not alone,” Custodio said.
Each family went home bringing along about 40 kilos of rice, food items, noche buena packs and canned goods.
“We received lots of Christmas presents. We have to hire a tricycle to bring these home,” said Gemalyn Jugarap of Barangay Apopong whose husband was among those missing up to this time.
That was not the last. MinDa and the local governments of Gensan and Sarangani, including other participating donors, would be doing the same activity before the New Year.
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