7 - Day Saga at Sea
(by Manuel Hernando, a reprint from The Batanes Chronicle, a YICA publication during the 80's)

		One early morning late in May 1981, Pedro Mernelo went to Valugan to survey the sea. The weather was fine and the call of the sea was irresistible. With a meager ration of a plateful of cooked rice, a jug of drinking water and a rusty bolo, he pulled out his boat and headed directly to the back of the Mt. Iraya. He had done this before several times without ever realizing that the Bashi Channel is treacherous body of water where fishing alone is not
A typical Ivatan tataya boat

healthy. Pedro is an old bachelor and fishing is his first love.

At 2 p.m. that day, he noticed that his tiny boat was slowly drifting towards the vast Pacific Ocean. He was jolted., because he knew well that once caught in the vortex of the swirling waters of the mighty pacific, he will have no chance of escaping alive. Darkness soon fell, and he did his best to steer hi boat away from that direction. But all his efforts, strength and resourcefulness were of no avail to the raging and unstoppable forces of nature. His only guide was a new moon and a bright little star which he believed was directly over the Philippine group. Morning came and he found himself directly in the path of the big ships travelling between Manila and the U.S. He waved at them and signalled for help, but his cries of distress fell on deaf ears and stubborn hearts. They just speed away. Without rest and sleep, he just tried to keep his boat afloat and let nature take its course. He sat down, cupped his chin and prayed hard to the Almighty for safe and quick deliverance.

On the fourth day, a big wave broke and almost sank his tataya. He scooped out the water. Feeling the acute pangs of hunger and thirst, he remembered that he had three dried fish in his "calapay". He munched them to assuage the gnawing pains of lack of food and water. On the seventh day, lady luck smiled at him. About 3 a.m. he saw a faint light in the distance ahead. As he neared it , he saw another brighter lights around. He became overjoyed at reaching land at last, but he was so weak from exposure to the elements and lacked of substance. He landed at dawn and he tried to pull his boat on the steep seashore to a higher land, but he could not move it. A Taiwanese woman watching him offered in sign language to help him. Both of them made no headway, so the woman left.

Afterwards, the boy scouts came bringing food, clothing and first aid. He could not communicate with them either, because he could not understand their slang English. He was brought to the Mayor or what they called Barrio Captain. He was examined, treated and given rest. He was provided a first class room in a hospital complete with television set which he said, he did not enjoy because the dialogue was all in Chinese. Finally, he was brought to the Philippine Embassy where more care and attention were given to him. Luckily, he met a fellow Ivatan working in the Embassy. Her name is Ms. Alice Cabal. She made Pedro's stay in Taiwan more pleasant and less lonesome. She helped to arrange Pedro's trip to Manila. He also came to know one Atty. Javier, a Batangueno from the Embassy who gave Pedro the necessary cooperation. He even brought Pedro in the evening to attend the Philippine Independence Day celebration on June 12. Since Pedro did not know how to dance, was not properly attired, and lacking of education and refinement, he felt very much self-conscious and totally out of place among the many VIPs and beautiful ladies who graced the occasion. Here, he was really homesick. But in a corner of the spacious hall, he saw a group of young men enjoying themselves talking and drinking his favourite Philippine and foreign brands. He came nearer to them and being a no tee-to -taler, a second invitation was unnecessary. He joined them and emptied everything that was given to him and wished for more. His new found friends may have enjoyed his company and sportsmanship, for they soon dispersed when there was no more to keep them lively together.

Flying back to Manila, he arrived at MIA on June 26, after being out of the country fro some 25 days. With no one coming to meet him, he sulked in a corner beside his fancy baggage. The Customs examiner suspecting that he was a smuggler, approached him to examine his articles. But Pedro stoutly refused, saying that he did not have any thing of value worth taxing among his few belongings. What aroused the curiosity of the Customs people was the way his things were arranged. His few old and dirty clothes and a few new ones given to him plus some gifts were neatly put in empty boxes of costly appliances and highly-priced items for the home. The examiner casually asked Pedro from where did he come. Pedro quickly and proudly answered "Batanes". Then the examiner remember his boss, Deputy Collector of the MIA Fernando Faberes who is a true native Ivatan. The examiner called for Mr. Faberes, and when the collector saw Pedro, they hugged each other like a long lost brothers…From then on, Pedro had a little trouble difficulty finding his way to the city to meet his relatives and friends. After a brief stay in Manila, he flew back to Basco where he still caught them holding wakes over him, and ending their novenas for the repose of his soul. Everyone was pleasantly surprised and happy to have him back hale and hearty. And so, instead of grieving, merry-making became the order of the day where Pedro drank all the wine and partook of the "pulotan" intended for person who would condole with the bereaved family and relatives.