The families of 12 fishermen and two other individuals who have gone missing when their  fishing vessel capsized after colliding with a foreign cargo vessel in Occidental Mindoro Sunday are not letting promises and memories drift away with them.

As the Philippine Coast Guard continues to search for survivors of Sunday’s sea mishap, the families are holding on to the big possibility that they would one day return.

All 14 missing are breadwinners who chose the rough life at sea to support their families.  

Mabel Bautista, 40, is still hoping that her partner of 10 years, Bartolome Oab Jr., 35, will fulfill his promise to marry her after saving enough money as a hatchman in the fishing vessel.

A hatchman oversees the loading and unloading of fish cargo to and from the vessel.

"Balak nga namin kumuha kami ng sangla-tira na bahay para, sabi niya, di na raw sya maglaot. Nagbabalak na kami magpakasal kasi matagal na kami. Kaya nga sumakay sya para maka-ipon (We were planning to get a rent-to-own house because he (Bartolome) no longer wanted to work at sea. We were planning to get married because we have been living together for a long time. That's the reason why he was working so hard.  To save money)," Bautista told Manila Bulletin in between sobs in an interview Tuesday at the office of Irma Fishing and Trading, the company that owns Liberty 5 in Malabon City.

For the past 13 years, Bautista said, her partner spent most of his time at sea, only going home yearly. But in October 2019, he decided to take shorter sea duties, from two weeks to two months, so they could finally start their own family.

"October noong magdecide na syang mag-uwian, kasi gusto nya na magka-baby kami," she added.  "Ito ngang yung huli, parang ayaw nya nang sumama kasi may trangkaso ako. Kaya nga lang sabi ko sa kanya, okay lang ako, kaya ko (It was October when he decided to return home more frequently, because he wanted us to have a baby. Last time, he seemed like he did not want to join the group because I was not feeling well. But I told him, I would be okay and I could take care of myself)," Bautista added.

Like Bautista, the wife and tson of Herbert Dalabajan, 28, are likewise waiting for him to return to Araceli, Palawan.

Speaking on behalf of Dalabajan's wife, who lives in Araceli, Palawan, Dennis Boboyoc told  Manila Bulletin how Dalabajan was able to provide well for his family as hatchman of the fishing vessel for three years.

"Plano nya na mag-barko, kasi samin sa Palawan, wala naman kaming sapat na hanap buhay. Wala kaming gaanong income, kaya naisipan namin na yung pinaka choice talaga namin, mag-apply doon sa fishing boat. Kasi kahit papano, hiwalay man kami sa pamilya namin, at least, may sinasahod kami (He planned to work in a fishing vessel because we have no stable job in Palawan.  We have no stable income either so we decided to try to apply to work in a fishing boat. We may be away from our families but at least we earn something for them), " Boboyoc shared.

For family

Aside from Oab and Dalabajan, those who were on board when the sea mishap happened were Jose Alfonso, Renante Dahon, Reynil Magura, Miguel Booc III, Joeffry Bantog, Jeerom Alaska, Michael Flores, Jayson Vigonte, Adrian Amogod, Reynald Riparip, Ariel Tabang and Edwardo Manipol Jr.

Most are residents of Palawan.

"Suporta po sya sakin at sa tatay dahil since 2018, nagpapacheck-up na po ako. Tapos noong October, na high blood yung tatay namin kaya hindi nya na magawang umuwi... kaya kahit mahirap yung trabaho nila. ginagawa nya lahat para sa pamilya nya (He was supporting me and our father because since 2018, I have a health condition. Then in October, my father had hypertension. So even if his work was hard, he did everything for his family)," Jaylene, Miguel Booc’s sister shared how her brother was a big help to the family.  

Reynil Magura, 29, endured all the hardship at sea to provide for his family, according to his cousin, Khristine Magura.

"Yung support nya talaga sa pamilya nya. Breadwinner kasi sya. Tapos, yung mother nya, may high blood. Tapos even sa father ko na na-comatose (He is the breadwinner in the family. He supports his mother who has hypertension.  He even supports my father who is  comatose)," she said.

On June 17, Liberty 5 manned by the 14 crew left Navotas Fish Port, its homeport, and stayed at the fishing grounds for several days from June 20, according to initial information provided by the company.

Fermin Soto, the general manager of Irma Fishing and Trading told a press conference the group left the fishing ground on June 26 and were expected to arrive in Navotas by 10 a.m. of June 28.

According to the Coast Guard, Liberty 5 was reportedly on its way to Navotas from Cagayan de Tawi-tawi when it collided with the Hongkong registered vessel in rough seas which was bound for Australia at about midnight Sunday.

The Coast Guard launched a Search and Rescue Operation after receiving a distress call through email from the crew of the cargo vessel who are Hong Kong nationals.

Irma Fishing and Trading already lodged a maritime protest with PCG, according to their lawyer, Arnold Naval.

Antonio Magalona, the 66-year-old grandfather of another hatchman, 26-year-old Adrian Amagod, appealed to authorities to guard their boat while the probe is underway.

There are reports that Liberty 5 already sank 200 meters deep at sea.

The families hope that rescue operation would continue until their loved ones are found.

"Alam naman namin kung ano yung buhay sa dagat. Pero sana, hindi sila tumigil hanggang hindi pa sila nahahanap (We know the life at sea. But we hope that authorities would not stop looking for them until they have not yet been found]," Boboyoc said.