RIZAL, Occidental Mindoro – Five days after the MV Hong Hai 16 capsized off the coast of Barangay Malawaan, the family of Chief Mate Cezar Monserate arrived at the incident command post in search of their missing patriarch.
Evelyn Monserate and her children, Mary Kane and Bryle, traveled from Dasmariñas, Cavite, holding on to hope that 63-year-old Cezar would be found alive. From the shore, they could see the ship where Philippine Coast Guard divers were still searching for missing crew members.
Evelyn recalled her last conversation with her husband through Messenger around 2 p.m. last Tuesday. They were supposed to speak again at 5 p.m., as part of their daily routine before Cezar’s 6 p.m. shift.
“Nagwo-worry na ako dahil nga bakit hindi pa rin siya online,” she said.
(I was getting worried because he was not online)
Their grandson even wrote a letter for Cezar, which Bryle brought with him:
“Dear Lolo Cezar, I’m waiting for you. I love you and I miss you. Mwah.”
Mary Kane remained hopeful, saying her father was always cautious when traveling.
“Ang una niyang ichecheck kapag alam niyang sasakay kami ng barko, ng eroplano, nasaan ang lifejacket, nasaan ang mga exit? Alam naming ang una niyang hahanapin kung saan siya safe.”
But hours later, technical divers from the Coast Guard recovered a body inside the ship’s accommodation area. The Monserate family was asked to identify it. Evelyn, overwhelmed with emotion, had to be assisted into an ambulance. Bryle confirmed the body was his father’s based on the clothes.
“Sorry, Tay, mahal na mahal ka namin… sorry sa lahat,” he said tearfully.
(Sorry, Tay. We love you very much. Sorry for everything)
Evelyn recounted receiving the devastating news from the shipping company that night.
“Ang sabi, ‘huwag ka mabibigla’, yun ang sabi, ‘magdasal lang tayo’… Kasi daw lumubog na yung barko, hindi na sila makita.”
(They said ‘Don’t be shocked.’ That’s what they said. ‘Let’s just pray.’ They said the ship had capsized and they couldn’t find the crew members)
Just a week before the tragedy, Cezar had shared his plans to retire and move back to Miag-ao, Iloilo with Evelyn.
“Eto dapat last na niyang sakay… Kasi ang plano, uwi na kami ng Iloilo for good pero sa nangyari yun ang pinakamasakit,” she said.
(This was supposed to be his last voyage… the plan was we would go home to Iloilo for good, but this happened)
As of Saturday, seven crew members from MV Hong Hai 16 have been confirmed dead, while four remain missing.
