‘God is still present in tragedy’
Not a single survivor – not even a relative of those killed or missing – attended the Mass held yesterday afternoon at the office of the 2Go group in Cebu City’s Pier 4 to mark the first anniversary of the tragic collision between the M/V St. Thomas Aquinas and the M/V Sulpicio Express Siete.
Lito Salvio, vice president of 2Go, said it was their office in Manila which was designated to invite the survivors and the relatives of the casualties to join the series of activities which the liner organized to mark the Aug. 16, 2013 tragedy.
“We are praying for the families that God will give them more strength in facing these difficulties,” he told Cebu Daily News.
Aside from officials and employees of the shipping line, the registered owner of the ill-fated Aquinas, also in attendance at yesterday’s ceremony were Alvin Santillana, operations head of Cebu City Risk Reduction Management Council and Cmdr. Rodolfo Villajuan, commander of Cebu Station of the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG).
In his homily, Fr. Ruel Desamparado, RCJ, reminded those present that God is always present during personal trials.
“We are all called to be faithful with each other in times of tragedies, in times of sorrows, in times of difficulties, in times of painful realities. We would see that God is still a faithful God, and he is always there to support us,” he said.
After the Mass, a convoy left the pier for Carreta Public Cemetery where a candle-lighting ceremony was held in the area where 46 unclaimed remains of those who perished in the tragedy were entombed.
2GO officials said the painstaking process of identifying the remains by matching DNA samples with those provided by relatives of the missing passengers and crew is still ongoing. So far, five remains were exhumed and turned over to the families following successful examination and matching by forensic experts from the National Bureau of Investigation and the PNP Crime Laboratory.
Salvio said they continue to coordinate with the Crime Lab officials to follow up the cross-matching of DNA samples.
“SOCO (scene of crime operatives) has the direct contact with families and so far there is no word from SOCO about further results. We are also coordinating with them,” he said.
A Philippine Coast Guard vessel will take 2GO representatives and relatives of the star-crossed passengers and crew to the area where the Aquinas sunk. A prayer service and offering of flowers will be held.
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