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Without money, man tries to swim from Cebu to Bohol to visit parents' tomb


The lack of money to buy a ticket for the ride home to Bohol did not stop a scavenger from wanting to visit the tomb of his parents for All Souls' Day.

With only a styrofoam, Ceferino Angco, 45, tried to swim from Cebu City to Bohol, where his parents were buried, according to a report of Lou Anne Mae Rondina on "State of the Nation with Jessica Soho."

Angco started swimming at around 11:00 pm Saturday, and at around 8:30 am the next day he was found by fishermen floating in Pungaton Reef in Talisay City, Cebu.  

Fisheries Sea Ecological Care (FISECA) Team Leader said, “Nakakita ang usa ka mananagat nga naglangoy-langoy siya. Nag-kuan og styrofoam nga gamay. Unya, gi-rescue.”

(Tagalog Translation: Nakita siya ng mangingisda na lumalangoy. Gumagamit ng maliit na styrofoam tapos ni-rescue.)

Angco said he was unable to move his hands while swimming in the middle of the sea.

“Di na malihok akong kamot, akong ipahuway, dugay mawa. May gali naa ko'y styro nga gigamit,” he said.

(Tagalog Translation: Hindi na magalaw 'yung mga kamay ko. Nagpahinga ako pero ayaw mawala. Buti na lang may styrofoam akong ginamit.)

Angco said he badly wanted to go home to Bohol after being away for six years.

He moved to Cebu to work as a baby-sitter for a cousin's child, but ended up as a scavenger.

“Namasin ra ko makauli para makabisita ko's akong mama ug papa sa kalag-kalag. Dugay-dugay na ko wa kauli sa amoa mga 6 na ka tuig. Mao to akong nahuna-huna,” he said.

(Tagalog Translation: Nagbabaka-sakali lang na makabisita ako sa mama at papa ko ngayong undas. Matagal na kasi akong hindi nakauwi sa amin mga 6 na taon na.)

After being rescued, Angco received a free ticket to Bohol from a councilor.

“Nagpasalamat ko'g dako kay natabangan ko,” he said.

(Tagalog Translation: Sobra 'yung pasasalamat ko kasi natulungan ako.)

Angco also underwent a medical examination and was found well.

Authorities have also started coordinating with Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) for assistance that can be given to him. — Joviland Rita/ LDF, GMA News

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