Thoughts about Christmas save 2 men adrift at sea

HAPPY TO BE ALIVE PO3 Gifredo Hampac and Reynaldo Felisilda survived two days at sea by thinking of Christmas. LEO UDTOHAN

TAGBILARAN CITY—The desire to spend Christmas with their families fueled their determination to survive.

PO3 Gifredo Hampac and his boatman, Reynaldo Felisilda, were heading to Loay town from Pamilacan Island in Baclayon town, Bohol province, on Thursday when the engine of their motorized banca conked out.

They drifted at sea for two days and were rescued by a fisherman in Zamboanga del Norte, about 140 nautical miles from Bohol.

Hampac was hugged tightly by his wife, Anecita upon his arrival in Tagbilaran City, Bohol on Saturday, grateful to be alive.

“I am so happy. This is the greatest gift this Christmas because we are complete now,” she told the Inquirer.

Business

Hampac and Felisilda, both residents of Lila town, went to Pamilacan Island last Dec. 20 to get two calves and a goat for Anecita’s business in Loay town.

Felisilda, the boat operator of Hampac’s motorized banca “Garcia Hernandez,” said the weather was fine when the group arrived at Pamilacan at 4 a.m.

Two hours later, they sailed to Loay, which was about 40 minutes away from the island.

But there was a sudden downpour and the waves swelled while the men were in the middle of the sea.

Their engine conked out, leaving them at the mercy of the current.

Strong wind

Hampac was able to contact Anecita, telling her that they were in waters off Siquijor fronting Camiguin Island.

But shortly after making the call, his phone died.

The strong wind continued to push their boat further out to the sea.

Anecita immediately went to the Coast Guard Station in Tagbilaran to report what happened to her husband and Felisilda.

Alerts were then transmitted to the Tagbilaran and Siquijor Coast Guard substations, but teams deployed to the area failed to find the missing men.

Felisilda said they had to endure the heat of the sun and cold nights as well as thirst and hunger.

To survive, they ate sea grass and drank rainwater and seawater.

To keep their spirits up, the two men talked about how their families would gather during Christmas Eve feast. Talking about their families made them want to survive their ordeal.

Hampac’s training as a police officer also helped him manage the situation.

Savior

Their luck turned when they were spotted by a fisherman who rescued them in waters off Dapitan City in Zamboang del Norte.

The fisherman brought them to Barangay Canlucani in Dapitan City where they later took a Coast Guard boat back to Bohol.

Anecita cried when she saw her husband emerge from  the BRP Capones of the Philippine Coast Guard at 7:30 p.m. on Saturday at the Tagbilaran Port.

“Praise the Lord. I also thank those who helped us,” she said.

Hampac, who is assigned to the Bohol Tourist Police, said he and Felisilda were thankful to God for surviving the ordeal.

He added that they considered themselves lucky.