Kaban ni D_BystandeR; TALAGSAONG BUHAT NI NOE LASTIMADA

It seldom happens to a man that a big and monstrous catastrophe involving a sea collision between two big ships (a cargo ship ramming a passenger ship) will unfold right in front of him while fishing in the sea off Talisay City that fateful Friday night, August 16,2013.

He was just an ordinary small fisherman but with a big heart who knows what to do in a spun of the moment. With nobody dictating him, he was the first to volunteer help to the early survivors of that grim sea mishap that would claim the lives of a bigger number of unfortunate sea travelers (latest report - 42 fatalities and 80 missing). Rescuing those who urgently needed help by "fours" in the order of "first come first serve" as his boat can only accommodate 4 persons at a time. He could not afford to waste time asking names of those he rescued because what was of paramount importance for him on that moment was to go back fast to the spot where  help was extremely needed. And how sadly he would recall in hind sight when he could not find anymore that guy whom he asked to let go of him as that man was holding onto the outrigger (katig) of his small boat fearing it could cause his boat to capsize but assured him he will be right back for him after dropping his passengers on the shore. He said he shed a tear for that guy and only wished he was saved by somebody else when he could not find him in his return trip. His succeeding trips plucking out survivors in the sea would later on take shorter because a coastguard boat arrived and anchored nearby and he no longer went ashore but to transfer them to the coastguard boat. This man, Noe Lastimada, 38, deserves a commendation from the Cebu provincial government of Gov. Jun Davide or from the City Council of Talisay City under Mayor JVR.

His heroism shown in rescuing precious human lives from that tragic sea accident deserves a reward, possibly a monetary  one in form in order to help uplift and augment his income to feed his family in a small little way, his present status, as a token of appreciation for his exemplary heroism in saving human lives and also as a way of extending a fitting reward to an ordinary citizen, a lowly fisherman of Talisay City but with a "big heart."

(Bug-os ang  pasalamat sa KAHAYAG ngadto sa magtatampo  nga si JOHNNY LOVE. Nagtakuban siya sa pangalan, "D_BystandeR".  Natawo siya sa Sugbo apan anaa na karon manimuyo sa Illinois sa tinipong nasod sa Amerika. Ang kusog nga koneksyon sa kasayuran pinaagi sa internet kanunayng naghaling sa iyang kadasig  pagtuki sa mga nagbukalbukal nga hisgutanan dinhi sa atong nataran. Usa siya ka magsusulat nga gradwado sa kursong komersiyo padulong sa pagka accountant sa University of San Carlos kaniadtong tuig 1961.  Nahimo siyang miyembro sa usa ka hugpong sa mga batan-ong magsusulat nga gitawag ug STUDENT PRESS.  Nahimo usab siyang   Associate Editor sa basahon  USC-JPIAN sa tuig 1962-63. Magtatampo usab siya isip magsusulat sa nasudnong magasin,  "Philippines Free Press" ug sa mga nag-unang peryodiko dinhi sa dakbayan sa Sugbo sa lunhaw pa ang iyang pangedaron. Nahimo siyang mamumuo sa usa ka pribadong kompaniya sa dakbayan sa Sugbo, ESCAÑO LINES, sulod sa napulo ug duha (12) ka tuig  dayon niyang tapon  ngadto sa NAPOCOR  ug nahimong kawani sa kagamhanan  sulod sa bayente dos (22) ka tuig. Niadtong tunga-tungang bahin sa tuig 2000, nilalin siya ngadto sa tinipong nasod sa Amerika ug sulod sa napulo (10) ka tuig, nagtrabaho siya sa  buhatan sa kagamhanan sa nasod sama  sa  UNITED STATES POSTAL SERVICE (USPS).  Karon sa pangedaron nga 68,  gihuptan gihapon niya ang walay pagkutat nga kadasig ug walay busganan nga kaikag sa pagpaambit sa iyang nahuptang abilidad  ug kabatid sa panulat.  Dili niya mapugngan ang kaugalingon sa pagpaambit sa iyang mga hunahuna labi na kon molambigit kini ug hisgotanan nga makadani sa iyang mga mata. Makadawat siya sa inyong mga hunahuna mahitungod sa iyang sinulat sa johnnylobedica@yahoo.com)