MANILA, JANUARY
21,
2012 (STAR) By Rudy Santos (PHOTO -
SURVIVOR: Gilda Gibo, cabin stewardess of the Costa Concordia, arrives at the
NAIA, carrying the life vest she wore during the sinking of the Italian cruise
ship. RUDY SANTOS)
There was a loud bang, Nancy Landicho remembers, and then darkness.
As panic spread among the 4,200 passengers aboard the Costa Concordia,
Landicho kept her cool.
The 32-year-old bar waitress asked everyone to stay calm. Together with her
fellow crewmembers, she herded the passengers into emergency gathering areas and
onto lifeboats.
Landicho reflected on her experience after flying into Manila yesterday with
100 other seamen who served on the Concordia. The rest of the Filipino crew are
expected to arrive today and Saturday.
While at least 11 people died in the sinking off the coast of Tuscany, Italy
last Jan. 13, some believe that the toll would have been higher without the
training of the 296 Filipino crewmembers onboard.
For Flor Dodona, a 27-year-old assistant waitress from Davao, it was the
first time she had set sail on the Concordia. Still, as the lights went out just
after 9:45 p.m. and the ship began to tilt, she immediately shifted to her
training.
Dodona ushered passengers into the ship's third floor restaurant, one of
several emergency gathering areas.
She then directed the group to the lifeboats on the deck above. The crew
helped the passengers board and, taking a life raft for themselves, waited until
4 a.m. before they were finally rescued.
Gilda Gido, a 30-year-old cabin stewardess from Malibay, said contrary to
reports from CNN that the Filipinos spoke no English, their fluency may have
made the difference between life and death.
"We were able to save many foreign passengers, directing them where to go,"
Gido said.
Gido is particularly well versed in evacuation procedures. The sinking of the
Concordia is the third time she has survived a maritime accident.
Two years ago, Gido manned a cruise ship filled with 2,000 passengers when
the vessel sustained a hole off the coast of Egypt. Three crewmembers drowned.
In a different incident, Gido's ship collided with a bulk cargo carrier at
the mouth of the Yangtze River in China.
Marlon Roño, head of Magsaysay Maritime Corp., which supplied the Filipino
crew to the Concordia, said all of its seafarers are well-trained and are adept
swimmers.
Roño's company supplies 26,000 Filipino seafarers to cargo ships and
commercial ships across the globe.
It is estimated a total of 300,000 Filipinos man boats across the globe at
any given moment.
Compensation
Roño said all of the 296 crew would still be paid for the three months
remaining on their contract onboard the Concordia.
In addition, Costa Crociere, the company that owns the Concordia, has stated
it will give full compensation to the Filipino crewmembers, refund their lost
belongings and replace their lost cash.
The Philippine government is also offering its help, including stress
debriefing for the crewmembers.
"The government is obliged to give them free counseling to help them recover
fast from the traumatic experience," said Nicon Fameronag, spokesman for the
Department of Labor and Employment.
Chief News Editor: Sol Jose Vanzi
© Copyright, 2012 by PHILIPPINE HEADLINE NEWS ONLINE
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rights reserved
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