Express to the afterlife
Hieronymus Bosch, Ship of Fools, originally uploaded by saffysafina.
The lonely goatherd asks: Why is Sulpicio Lines still operating? Why hasn’t it been forcibly disbanded? With a record like theirs—some 7,000 passengers killed in about 23 years—why does anybody still travel with them? And has President Arroyo repeated President Aquino’s “No stone unturned” promise yet?
(1) I DON’T KNOW, but if someone has a sound theory, do post it. (2) Uhh, because its defenders argue that there aren’t enough vessels working in these 7,100 islands and a shipping line with a Titanic-type body count is better than no shipping line at all? (3) As far as I know, more people died in the sinking of Doña Paz than on 9/11, but no one declared war on unsafe transportation. It’s “bahala na” at its deadliest. (4) Aargh.
Answers to questions you might be asking, unless you wandered onto this site purely by accident >>>
July 1st, 2008 at 01:36
It really sounds stupid now that they’re suing PAGASA for not giving them the right weather forecast and sailing into a storm. What happened to their risk management skills?
July 1st, 2008 at 04:18
Eight hundred and some souls lost due to our national ineptitude, a collective mind stuck at the toddler stage. I mean we’re like little kids aloose in a dysfunctional house with mom and dad lollygagging in bed. Juveniles getting sauced at a house party without adult supervision. This daily spectacle of public officials sniping at each other, acting as if the life of this nation was one big f***ing joke!
What’s endearing in us – being easygoing, jovial, jocular – also exposes us to tragedies such as this, avoidable with a little more prudence, gravitas; but instead we keep making the same mistakes as you pointed out. I wish we’d sober up, chin up and work to upgrade the collective IQ.
It’s all so sad; and STUPID!
July 1st, 2008 at 18:25
What happens is the media makes a big fuss about it when these people are “stranded.” I remember all those news reports on both big networks about how strong winds delayed people’s travel plans and they were blaming it on those who made the decision to cancel flights rather than the weather.
I believe that does add to the factor of going out during a damned typhoon, even one that goes up to Signal #4.
July 1st, 2008 at 21:37
Sulpicio has been sailing the high seas despite the death toll primarily because people have still been patronizing them. I’ve had my share of sulpicio mishaps: twice experienced a black out in the middle of the deep dark ocean (on two different occassions, of course), have had a flooded cabin (due to rain), and several minor delays (say, 2-3 hours docking!). Still, when their rates never shot up (a comfi cabin of 4 costs 500 bucks less than others, per head), and when they’re not running late, they’re 2 hours early (just imagine, setting foot on the shores of Cebu before Apollo himself), you’ll be seeing me lining up outside their ticket booths. In other words, the tragedy that was Sulpicio Lines invloved so many vantage points, and if we may have a part of Caesar’s death, then let Brutus wallow in his conscience, and I…well, as all others, still have to figure out my part.
July 2nd, 2008 at 00:16
Three words: Third World country. You know, like India, which is as deadly in terms of transport related accidents. It is irresponsible to speculate on who is to blame because as of now the captain is missing, and may have drowned along with the passengers. But according to reports, 40 foot waves suddenly buffeted the ship and it capsized. Its just law of physics, yes? Ships sink. Planes crash. Trains derail. Land vehicles collide. Any of these happens, and people will die, you can count on it. Its just that it happens more frequently here than any other country except India. Why? Because fools rule this country. Transportation laws, which are intended to protect human lives at all cost, are useless in a country populated by people who do not learn from the tragedies of the past. Then again, maybe Sulpicio Lines is cursed. Or maybe we are cursed?
July 3rd, 2008 at 10:53
Why is Sulpicio Lines still operating?
Hmmm…
Why is Imelda Marcos still free?
Why does Boy Abunda have a music album?
Victims’ relatives blame the Coast Guard.
Coast Guard blames Sulpicio Lines.
Sulpicio Lines blames PAG-ASA.
PAG-ASA blames Frank.
Only in the Philippines!