The Last Text Message
According to my cousin’s wife, a teary eyed, hysteric wife at the moment mind you, the last text exchange is still on her phone.
(translated)
Bebot’s wife: Where are you now?
Bebot: We’re off Romblon, but the weather is getting worse, and the waves are getting high, dno’t text again, because I won’t be able to get a signal real soon.
And that was the last of the text messages. Right now, my cousins are going to go to a sports complex in Cebu, where Sulpcio are having all the bodies of the tragedy placed for identification, along with the help of the NBI. My family is now hoping that at least, we can recover Bebot’s body for a proper burial.
Bebot was a great guy, a seaman, who helped me quite a few times, treated me out to lunch a couple of times, and was generally a great cousin. He had docked in The Philippines last September and decided that he would wait until his daughter graduated from nursing last March until he set out again. Well, suffice it to say, his daughter finished, took the board exam earlier this month.
That’s why Bebot went to Manila in the first place, to file his paperwork in order to head on out again out of the country. His initial trip home wasn’t scheduled until today actually, but he figured since he finished his paperwork early that he would just go home early too. Bebot’s wife didn’t want him to go on that boat, because she was worried about the weather. But Bebot, being a seaman, was just too comfortable at sea, and figured since the storm wasn’t that rough before heading out, that it would be alright.
Right now, I just don’t know what to say, still a bit shocked. Suffice it to say, my families a bit pissed off at Sulpicio, The Coast Guard, and even PAGASA. Even before I knew of Bebot’s fate, these were my main targets. Right now, I’m not sure what to do, but after all is said and done, after we find Bebot, whatever has happened to him, someone will pay, and criminal actions and civil suits will start flying…
They tell us that they will provide money, but we don’t need their damn money, we just need our loved ones back. No amount of money will ever get them back. Such assholes! And so, this is a mission, to start getting rid of the worst Shipping Line in history, they better not make it out of this tragedy with their licenses intact, and I hope they lose all the money they have trying to fend off lawsuits and criminal liabilities.
Bebot, wherever you are my dear cousin, I’ll try my best so that your daughter will get a good job, and that your death will not be in vain. I promise.
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I am sorry Nick. Words cannot describe how I feel and even the pain you are feeling at the moment.
Just can’t help getting teary-eyed reading this one, i definitely agree, Sulpicio lines should not be allowed to service passengers anymore.
I’m sorry to hear about your cousin.
It goes beyond BRIBERY and WEAK MARITIME LAWS. The Princess of Stars tragedy is a case of HUMAN SACRIFICE! And this is not the first by Sulpicio Lines.
Ever wonder why after THREE MARITIME ACCIDENTS, the company is still afloat???? And why does this company fond of sailing during bad weather conditions???
Try to look at this angle, INNOCENT HUMAN LIVES are being offered to some DARK FORCES to ensure the company’s business success!
This may sound like a weird plot of a thriller movie BUT there are some people who still PRACTICE “DAGA” (and I’m not talking about pigs and chickens being slaughtered and offered as “ALAY” to the gods). Dig into the SULPICIO owners family background and you might just find some interesting answers!
200,000 is the amount of money the insurance for each passenger…am wondering..why should the benefioiary sign a waiver of not filing a case when availing this 200k.