Mt. Balatukan, Claveria, Misamis Oriental — The province of Misamis Oriental led the 19th commemoration rites for the ill-fated Cebu Pacific flight 387, in the mountains of Mt. Balatukan, this town, on Thursday.
The tragedy that claimed 104 lives including five foreigners remains in the history of air tragedies in the country as one of the worst in terms of lives lost.
As heavy mist covered the same mountains last Thursday, some 500 people gathered many of whom are relatives of the victim. Many carried placards with loving thoughts and messages in remembrances of their loved ones.
Board Member Gagay Acain, read the message of Gov. Yevgeny Vincente Emano who was out of town.
“We may be a bit more sober today (Feb. 2) than the day this tragedy happened. But this does not mean we loved them less. Our loved ones who made this cold grounds warmer with their blood on that otherwise uneventful morning some 19 years ago, must now be proud for they have made positive impact which we now enjoy,” part of Governor’s message reads.
Emano’s message went on to define the two very essential events which resulted from the tragedy that led to present air travel more safe.
“One, flight maps now reflect the correct elevation of Mt. Balatucan which is 8,000 feet and not 5,000 feet; two, commercial flights are now banned from making side trips to other destinations not on schedule or not revealed and approved by government authorities,” the message reads.
While indeed, the atmosphere of the gathering was more sober, yet many of the relatives of the victims unashamedly shed a tear or tear when names of their loved ones were mentioned during the program.
In the same speech, Emano pledged to honor the victims by making the crash site into a more meaningful place to visit and including it on the maps of the “must see” sites in the province.
“This is our simple way of giving them honours and appreciation for the positive things which they clearly paid with their lives,” Emano said. (pio)
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