Thank God Jayne returned home safely from her
three -week diving holiday at Cebu, Philippines.
Just two days before her arrival, Sat , 11pm, there
was a brief mention, over the radio, of news that
Typhoon Fengshen would attack central Philippines
and the surrounding islands.
When it was time for her and Eleanor to leave Puerto
Princessa, they heard about the typhoon. Thank God
they were not affected because it was no small matter.
It had killed enough lives for our President and PM to
send condolence letters to President Arroyo.
The tragedy was that the typhoon had "flipped" a MV
Princess of the Stars on Sunday, sinking the ferry
and leaving "700 of her passengers feared dead".
By Tuesday, news was that "only 38 out of 800"
reached safety. Today (Wed), the search for bodies
is still going on and that many bodies have been
found inside the ferry, raising fears of a "mass
underwater grave".
Notwithstanding the inaccuracy of the figures, it's a
fact that 'floating coffin' tragedies are not uncommon
in the Philippines given the country's horrendous
track record of ferry tragedies. The fares are cheap
but the condition of the ferries is something else!
And when you hear how Jayne herself described
her banca boat rides - truly, God has been most
gracious to her (and me ) in sparing her from any
accidents, at least this time round because it can
also be reasoned that if God allowed her to go
through any of these harrowing experiences, we
can thank Him all the more for bringing her home
safely ! Or what if ........
I just thank God that He "deemed it best" to bring
her and Eleanor safely from their diving holiday .
It's truly by God's grace that they came back
safe and sound, free from any mishaps or
tragic accidents, enjoying themselves thoroughly,
when those hundreds who had gone for a 'safer one'
in the MV Princess of the Stars didn't even make it.
