A SHIP AMIDST THE RAGING STORM

UNEDITED SAMPLE EDITORIAL ARTICLE
By Jezel Christine Nolasco Quevada
IV-Madame Marie Curie


This sea tragedy, tagged as one of the worst in the Philippine history, has raised a lot of questions to the Filipinos especially to the grieving families of the passengers and crews who died a tragic death when the MV Princess of the Stars sunk amidst the raging storm on June 21, 2008.

Was this dreaded event bound to happen or a “force majeure”? Was this because some people care less about others or simply negligence? Whose fault was it to condemn this devastating voyage? All these queries were raised during the investigations conducted by the Department of Transportation and Communication (DOTC) as they try to resolve the issue. The shipping lines criticize PAGASA by apparently giving the wrong weather forecast who in turn said it was suppose to be the decision of the shipping lines to continue, postpone or cancel their journey in cases of calamities like this. They also knocked the Coast Guard and the Captain of the ship. It looks like they are playing ping pong balls as they pass the blame to one another without anyone accepting responsibility for what happened as I watched them in various news and television shows.

Before we dwell into these questions, let us first reminisce what had really happened that Friday, June 20, when Typhoon Fengshen, commonly known as Typhoon Frank, had struck the Philippine Island. PAG-ASA had raised their weather forecast all-over the country. However, some people continued to travel despite the probable risks maybe because of some important matters that needed to be attended to in Cebu. They boarded the MV Princess of the Stars and the management allowed it to sail thinking that the direction of the storm was not in its route.

The following day, June 21, when the ship was near its destination - in Sibuyan Island, Romblon, a sudden twist of event happened. The direction of typhoon Frank shifted and hit exactly where the vessel was. Everything that could ho wrong did go wrong for MV Princess of the Stars. It lost its engine power, the storm ripped its hull and it sank with over 800 passengers aboard. This had evoked varied emotions, mostly anger and sense of loss, aside from exposing again the failings of government and the private sector.

Various retrieval operations are being conducted. Reports as of today say that only 57 were very lucky to have survived this devastating event. Many of those trapped inside the ship were the most precious cargo it held: children, infants and senior citizens. During these operations, the government found out that the ship was carrying a 10-ton endosulfan, a poisonous pesticide, adding to the issue that the line was facing. The government was blaming the fault to the shipping line because Sulpicio Lines, as common carrier, is bound to carry the passengers to safety as far as human care and foresight can provide, using the utmost diligence of very cautious persons, with a due regard for all the circumstances. On the other hand, some are trying to accuse the Philippine Coast Guards for allowing the plagued ship to sail though Typhoon Frank was already in the Philippine Area of Responsibility.

This event draws the line to our country. It tells us that more and more of our countrymen are becoming unconcerned citizens. Some do not heed to precautions and do things their way despite the warnings given, some want to do and finish things as they plan them, they tend to take things for granted and always battle with fate. And when this results to tragedy like what had happened to MV Princess of the Stars, we easily point fingers at each other on who should be blamed, and worse is, no one takes the responsibility to what had happened.

I think that, instead of criticizing each other, what they should prioritize is to concentrate on finding ways and means to contribute and work together for an extensive and effective retrieval operations as soon as possible because the families and friends of the dead crews and passengers are long been waiting to pay their last respect and give them decent burials.

They should also focus their energy and resources on finding an efficient way of removing the Endosulfan pesticide out of the waters quickly, or else, our sea and all the creatures depending on it will be in danger.

At the end of all these issues, pointing fingers will help solve nothing. It just worsens the situation and made it bigger. With what is happening, the Philippines is once again a “laughing-stock” around the world. Next time around, if we already know that there is a calamity, we should not travel and risk our lives even if our journey is important. Better to postpone than permanently cancel it because of the risks involved. After all, our lives is more costly than anything here on earth and we should take full responsibility for it. And even if we can pass on the blame to others, it cannot compensate for the life that will be lost.

Lastly, if we were to look for the main cause of this tragedy, let us all take into consideration the story behind it and not let our emotions took over us. After identifying the people responsible for this and imposing the fair course of action for such misdeed, let us not linger on to this situation so we can start to move on with our lives. Nonetheless, may this situation serve as a lesson to us so that similar tragedies won’t happen again. God has given us the will to make our own decision so let us make decisions wisely and not compromise with destiny.