Fallen Stars

The sinking of MV Princess of the Stars off the coast of Sibuyan Island in Romblon over the weekend is the latest ferry disaster in the Philippines. As of press time, only 32 have been rescued and over 800 passengers and crew are still unaccounted for.

Sulpicio Lines, owner of the vessel, blames Typhoon Frank (international name Fengshen) and not engine failure as the cause of the accident. The ship, which is considered the biggest and even one of the most luxurious ships in the country, set sail from Manila to Cebu on June 21. Typhoon Signal 1 was raised. A distress signal was sent when they were in the vicinity of Romblon-Masbate. The ship went down the next day. The question now is, despite warnings of the onslaught of typhoon, why did the shipping company, as well as the Philippine Coast Guard, allowed the ship to sail. Other shipping firms like Negros Navigation and Superferry halted their ships to sail that day. And many passengers from the 2 shipping firms transferred to MV Princess of the Stars since its trip was not cancelled.

Philippine President Gloria Arroyo was furious upon hearing the news during her visit to the United States. She instructed an all-out effort to rescue the 800 people feared trapped inside the ship.

This is not the first maritime disaster of the Sulpicio Lines.
This list contains 3 of the worst ferry accidents in the Philippines.

- The world's worst ferry disaster was the collision of MV Dona Paz and MT Vector at the Mindoro area in December 20, 1987. MV Dona Paz was overcrowded when it hit the oil tanker MT Vector, which ignited a fire burning the 2 vessels instantly. An estimated 4,341 people died.

- The next year, 1988, MV Dona Paz's sister ship MV Dona Marilyn sank off the coast of Leyte killing at least 250 to 300 people.

- MV Princess of the Orient, one of the biggest passenger vessels in the country, sank during a storm off the coast of Batangas in September 18, 1998. Of the almost 400 people on board, 150 died.

Free Nation?

Break Free from Poverty
by: Pres. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo

-------------------------

One hundred and ten years after we broke free of foreign bondage, we remember with deep gratitude our heroic forebears who paid the ultimate sacrifice on the altar of freedom so that we may live as a sovereign people.

The centuries-old struggle continues. Instead of colonizing powers, we must now protect our freedom and future as a nation from global economic storms and security threats.

The Philippines has built up a strong economy which is helping us meet the challenges of the global surge in the price of food and fuel. A strong and growing economy has been the central pillar we have labored to create to help guarantee peace, order and stability in our country. It is paying off: our economy reached its highest level of growth in 30 years last year, the peso is strong, and we are close to balancing our budget.

As a result of our economic comeback, we are able to invest in key sectors to cushion the harsh impact of rice and fuel on our poor. We are also able to continue to invest in necessary infrastructure like roads, bridges and education, to name a few. All the while, we are balancing these vital investments with a commitment to meet our fiscal obligations and balance the budget in 2010.

We have been working tirelessly to address challenges arising from the slowdown in the global economy combined with the spike in oil and food prices. The government is working to make sure that our food supplies remain stable and that we put food on the table for every Filipino.

In terms of oil, the high price of gasoline and everyday commodities hits our poor the hardest. While the high price of oil is a global issue and outside the control of government, we have introduced measures to lift the burden of our people.

However, no matter what actions we take, this is a global problem. We must work together to resolve this if there is going to be any long-lasting improvement.

It is important to acknowledge the important role that our international friends and allies have made to our national development. This includes the countries and organizations who are our development partners and the foreign investors who have become part of our business community and who have brought their technologies and capital to the Philippines.

You are a part of the Philippine economic success story. We are grateful for your contributions and your commitment to our nation and our people.

Be with us in our steadfast desire for the Philippines to break free from the bondage of poverty and to be able to join the first world in 20 years.


These are excerpts from the President’s speech during the reception for the 110th anniversary of Philippine independence at Malacanang Palace on June 12, 2008.