Family reunited amid tragedy

A man, carrying his young daughter, cried in happiness on seeing his wife alive at the relief operations in Cebu City yesterday morning.

The last time Ronald Manligis saw his wife, Gina Payad was on the MV St. Thomas Aquinas seconds before they got separated while scampering to jump into the cold waters as the vessel was starting to list to its left.

He thought his wife had been left behind and went down with the ship.

Manligis, 35, said he was holding their two-year-old daughter while he woke up Payad, 25, when their ship collided with the MV Sulcon Express Seven.

The collision occurred in the vicinity of Lawis Ledge, Talisay City, about two to three nautical miles from the Cebu port at 9 p.m. last Friday.

Ronaldo said he didn’t have have time to look for Payad. So he took a deep breath and held his daughter tight as he jumped into the water.

They were later rescued by Coast Guard personnel. Manligis told his rescuer his wife did not survive.

Miracle

Little did he know that Gina had also been rescued by another group and was taken to Talisay City.

The family was later reunited at the 2Go Terminal on Pier 4 where they all cried in happiness.

The Manligis family had come from Nasipit in Agusan del Norte and were on their way to Manila to look for work.

Survivors believed it was a miracle that they survived.

Elmo Miñoza, 25, said he was by the railing when he saw the bow of the cargo slicing into the left side of the passenger ferry.

He said he had to climb and jump from the sinking passenger ship to the cargo vessel.

He said he managed to jump and didn’t suffer any bruise or fracture, unlike other passengers.

Minoza was reunited with his brothers in Barangay Pajac in Lapu-Lapu City at dawn Saturday. “I’m lucky to be alive,” he said. Inquirer