A Filipino missionary was killed in a boat tragedy in the Solomon Islands last weekend, the Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) said on Wednesday.
 

The CBCP said authorities found the body of Ryan Turallo, 30, at about 4:00 p.m. on Tuesday (Manila time) at Aleang Village in the Shortland Group.

 

The recovery of the body came two days after the boat tragedy happened off the Shortland Islands in the western province of Solomon Island.

 

Survivors included a seven-year old boy and a Filipino priest, Fr. Edmund Siguenza. They were flown to Gizo hospital for immediate medical attention.

 

The CBCP said the death toll from the boat tragedy has now gone up to three, including two children. One adult remained missing as of Wednesday.

 

Citing initial reports, the CBCP said the boat carrying 10 people departed Gizo for Nila in the Shortland Islands last Saturday morning, but capsized around midday.

 

Six other passengers were rescued by Solomon Island authorities, who said the weather in the western part of the country had been very bad in past days.

 

"Lover of youth, life"

 

Caceres archdiocese social communications director Fr. Louie Occiano said Turallo worked as Student Affairs Coordinator at St. John Bosco Senior Technical School in Nila of the Shortland Islands.

 

Gizo Bishop Luciano Capelli was the one who informed Turallo's family in Iriga City about the incident.

 

Capelli, in his letter to Turallo’s parents, described the missionary as a “lover of youth, life, with dreams and plans for himself, his loved ones and the youth entrusted to him.”

 

He added Turallo, as student affairs coordinator, “has given his life as a Volunteer Missionary in a very isolated place, with great joy and enthusiasm for life.”

 

Meanwhile, Cepelli called on Solomon Island youths to “follow Ryan’s footsteps at the service of the Church and the youth.” - VVP, GMA News