Txt brings home Pinoys stranded in Vietnam

Leave it to Generation Text to connect with each other through their cell phones even if they’re an ocean apart.

Juvy Telen of Subic, Zambales endured a grief-stricken Christmas because her boyfriend, fishing boat captain Julius Basan, was lost at sea.

Juvy and Julius were scheduled to wed on Jan. 18 and that may have been the reason why Julius decided to embark for Panganiban Reef, also known as Scarborough Shoal, to fish for tambakol with his six-man crew on Dec. 16.

Basan’s crew was comprised of his townmates Aldrino Gutamura, 25; Raffy Dimatio, 24; Claudio Fajardo, 22; Maximo Moreno, 23; Rolando Padon, 27 and Edmund Oribia, 25, all of Barangay Wawandue in Subic.

It would have been a potentially profitable week-long trip.

Panganiban Reef is only 135 nautical miles off Zambales and is so rich a fishing ground that Chinese and Vietnamese fishermen are often caught poaching in the area.

But their vessel, the Prince J , developed engine trouble while at sea and the boat drifted aimlessly for weeks across the South China Sea.

When the Prince J failed to return as expected before Christmas Day, the fishermen’s alarmed relatives reported the vessel and its crew as missing.

The relatives, including Juliet, told officials from the Armed Forces’ Northern Luzon Command and the Coast Guard of their fear that the fishermen may have been "arrested" by the Chinese, who are also laying territorial claim over the reef.

But although the authorities could not find the vessel and the fishermen, they fanned the relatives hopes that they may be alive.

On Tuesday, Juliet’s tortuous wait came to an end when she received a text message from her fiancé assuring her that he was alive and well.

It turned out that ocean currents and northeasterly winds that are particularly strong at this time of year brought the vessel and its crew to Vietnam where they were rescued by commercial ship.

Juvy ran for help from Zambales Vice Gov. Ramon Lacbain who informed the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) of the fishermen’s predicament.

"Their boat (engine) apparently conked out and the boat drifted toward Vietnam," said Coast Guard official Allen Dalangin. "They were rescued by a commercial ship within the waters of Vietnam."

Lacbain said the DFA has already arranged that the fishermen be flown back to the country from Hanoi, Vietnam via Philippine Air Lines Flight PR-592 which is scheduled to arrive at 1 p.m. today.

Dalangin said there have been many other such cases in the past, involving fishermen who ended up either in Vietnam or Singapore.

"At times, fishermen who are reported lost at sea for over two months turn out safe in neighboring countries," Dalangin said.