Bartolome Dokoy Sr,
58, with helper Jerome Balios, 30, arrived home this dawn after
seeking refuge in the coastlines of Gen. MacArthur,
Eastern Samar.
Dokoy, known to his
wife as Lome recounted his ordeal at sea via Radyo ng Bayan-DYES
‘Pamilya ha Kahanginan’ program anchored by Ruth Rivera this morning.
On Monday, January 17,
2011, his wife Felecitas had requested DYES to air that her husband was
missing since the past
Saturday, January 15,
2011 when a team of fisherfolks ventured to the tuna highway some 75
nautical miles off the Borongan coastlines.
Lome recounted that
the weather was fine when they sailed from Barangay Sabang. They then,
fished for sometime, but towards dusk, the seas got rough, so much so
that the group decided to head home.
“But we got caught in
the turbulent seas and could not see our way back,” Lome told PIA.
They stayed that way
trying to be afloat for several hours,
Lome
lost track of the time and his companions. “It was dark and I barely
had time to check on my compass in my effort to control the boat.”
Lome said. When daylight came, he realized they were a few nautical
miles off Suluan Island.
As a fisherman for
years now, having started young in native Sindangan, Zamboanga del
Norte, Lome has somehow memorized the coastlines. “I did not dare
venture to dock in Guiuan as I am more familiar with the coastlines of
Gen. MacArthur.”
After almost a day of
cruising, they reached Gen. MacArthur, where they sought help from
some friends like gas and food.
Last night, while wife
Felecitas was fervently praying for her husband’s safe return, she
could not believe that their relatives were rejoicing upon sighting
the very boat of Lome and Jerome approaching Barangay Sabang shores.
“I am really thankful
that my husband and his help are safe now,” Felecitas blurted out.
”Ura-ura an ak pangadi,
Lord kay ginkuha mo naman an ak Junior, ibalik gad man an ak Senior.”
The wife narrated. (trans: I prayed so hard then I asked the Lord that
since He took my Junior, he should at least return my Senior)
Son Bartolome Jr died
in 2000 on the height of typhoon Reming while he was also out fishing.
“I realized that one should never panic when out there in the
turbulent seas,” Lome said.
“But more than his
presence of mind, his decades of sea experiences and his family as
inspiration to stay alive, Lome never lost grip of the Lord, his guide
and this time, a mighty Saviour.
