Earlier, I wrote that from indications, the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) and Sulpicio Lines appeared to be innocent in the recent sinking of MV Princess of the Stars, the biggest commercial ship in this country. But after listening to the explanation of PAGASA’s director, Dr. Prisco Nilo, on our dzRH radio program last Sunday evening, it appears that both the PCG and the shipping company have a lot to explain.
Nilo said earlier indications were that “Frank” was going to hit Bicol. At 11:20 a.m. on June 20, the PAGASA weather bureau hoisted Typhoon Signal No. 3 over Masbate, southern Bicol, Samar and Leyte, even as various tracking centers around the region indicated the typhoon wouldn’t hit here at all. The same day at 8 p.m., the PCG allowed the Sulpicio ship to sail from Manila to Cebu City with Signal No. 1 over Manila. Later, however, the typhoon veered from the Bicol region and cut across Western Visayas and headed toward Southern Luzon.
Nilo said that at 11 p.m. that same night, Signal No. 3 was hoisted over Western Visayas, including Romblon and Mindoro—the very route the ship would take. He said other boats left Manila that day but took cover in various places. Only Princess of the Stars continued its journey. Nilo said PAGASA was issuing major bulletins every six hours as well as interim ones, using voice servers, email, text messaging, etc. and held no fewer than five press conferences during the typhoon.
Nilo also stressed that PAGASA’s equipment was modernized in recent years with substantial funding from President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, who chairs the meetings of the National Disaster Coordinating Council during calamities, and a Japanese grant.
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The media reported that Sulpicio Lines planned to sue PAGASA for issuing “faulty” reports and failing to communicate to the ship. But is this PAGASA’s job, or does this belong to the PCG? The Manila Standard reported that Sulpicio was operating by an old circular governing the movement of ships in bad weather, and its owner claimed they never got the June 2007 circular. It’s obvious that there was a failure of communication between the regulating agency and the shipping line. (Is it true that the PCG was resorting to texting only? Everyone knows that a text message can be delayed by as much as three hours.) There are also reports that the vessel’s engine conked out and that cargoes were not latched, causing the ship to roll from side to side.
Let’s hope the Board of Marine Inquiry would rise above the old boys’ network and get to the bottom of the truth, so that deadly mistakes won’t be repeated. After all, Nilo warns that anywhere from 14 to 16 typhoons are still expected to strike until the end of the year, some of them quite strong.
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In the last two weeks, the nation agonized over the powerful storm that caused death to hundreds, particularly in the sea tragedy in Romblon, and enormous dislocation and loss of livelihood in many communities. Thus the “masterpiece” of a victory by Manny Pacquiao was a welcome respite. Our champ was magnificent in his lightning speed and endurance. It was obvious that his Mexican-American opponent didn’t know what hit him. Pacquiao, who wrested the World Boxing Council lightweight crown from David Diaz in Las Vegas, is undoubtedly the greatest Filipino boxer of all time. He joins the legends in the boxing hall of fame.
But there’s also an interesting facet about our champ that is worth stressing. Despite his enormous fortune, Pacquiao realizes that he needs to invest more in his formal education, having finished only grade school owing to poverty during his youth. This is something our young people, who idolize the champ, should emulate.
Over the weekend, Education Undersecretary Vilma Logroño-Labrador, chair of the National Commission on Culture and the Arts, revealed to Cecile Alvarez and me during our radio show on education that Pacquiao had been working to get a college education after passing the Department of Education’s accreditation and equivalency test with flying colors, scoring well in subjects like writing and math. Pacquiao consulted senior department officials about going into higher studies, exhibiting an inclination toward law. However, Education Secretary Jesli Lapus told him he could always hire the best lawyers in town, and advised him to focus on how to manage his fortune well.
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The champ followed the secretary’s wise advice and over the past two years, he has enrolled at the college of business administration of Notre Dame University in his native General Santos City, with former city mayor Rosalia Nuñez as his private tutor. Let’s hope that the efforts of our boxing icon to better himself in the field of education and culture would greatly inspire and encourage our young people to also take their education seriously.
If Pacquiao, with all his millions of pesos sees the need to go back to school, so should they who have much less in life take their schooling seriously. It’s the only sure way to upward mobility, even if you can throw punches like Pacquiao.
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Lauro Baja Jr., our immediate past permanent representative to the United Nations, has accepted an appointment as foreign affairs consultant to Senate President Manuel Villar and the Senate. Baja is a multi-awarded career diplomat and recipient of many decorations, including the Order of Sikatuna, the University of the Philippines Alumni President’s Award, the United Nations Award and The Outstanding Filipino award. He was twice selected president of the UN Security Council, presiding with distinction when the Philippines chaired this very important body.
Baja’s latest appointment is in recognition of his expertise in foreign affairs, particularly in multilateral and bilateral diplomacy. It’s also an indication that Villar is serious about forming a think tank, obviously in preparation for his running for president in 2010.
