Remembering the fishermen lost in WPS tragedy; widows plea for help

FB Dearyn

MANILA, Philippines — The widows of the fishermen who were killed after their boat FB Dearyn was rammed by the oil tanker Pacific Anna in the West Philippine Sea pleaded for government assistance and remembered the sacrifices of the fatalities.

 The maritime incident is described as an allision — as opposed to a collision — because Pacific Anna rammed FFB Dearyn, which was stationary at that time. 

Two of the widows were present when the ill-fated fated fishing boat was towed to Rivera Wharf in Subic Bay Freeport Zone in Olongapo City on Monday. 

“Naalala ko po talaga siya, kasi masakit po ang pagkawala niya; di ko po talaga inaasahan,” said Ailyn Samarita, 43, the widow of Dearyn skipper and owner Dexter Laudencio.

(I remember him, his loss was so painful to us; we did not expect it.)

“Wala na kaming pang hanap-buhay,” she lamented.

(We have no more source of livelihood.)

Samarita said she plans to set up a business.

“Binabalak ko po magtinda sa harap namin mga lutong ulam.”

(I am planning to sell home cooked meals.)

The widow also pointed out that that it will take a fortune for them to repair the wooden boat, worth an estimated P7 million. 

Melanie Mejeco, who  was widowed following the death of Romeo Mejeco, 38, also became emotional upon seeing the badly damaged fishing boat.

“Umiyak po talaga ako naalala ko ‘yung asawa ko,” Mejeco said.

(I was crying because I remembered my husband.)

The fisherman also left behind four children.

“May mga nag aaral pa akong mga anak… wala na kaming aasahan na maghanap-buhay,” the widow said.

(Our children are still studying. We can no longer rely on someone for livelihood.)

“Bigyan po sana nila kami ng sapat na tulong, yung agarang tulong. Kasi gumagana ‘yung araw, yung mga naibibigay po na tulong sa amin nagagamit na po namin.”

 (I hope they give us enough assistance, immediate assistance. As days go by, we use up the various forms of assistance we receive.)

 The widow noted that his husband used to earn P100,000 a month.

 “Yung asawa ko lumalaot dahil ang purpose niya para maipagawa ‘yung bahay namin, ‘yung bahay namin giba-giba na,” she said.

(My husband wanted to fix our dilapidated house, that was his purpose.)

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