UST fetes 4 nuns who saved lives in 1983 sea mishap

MANILA, Philippines - Four heroic nuns were feted posthumously for saving several lives in the sinking of the M/V Doña Cassandra but who died in the process in 1983. The Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) said Wednesday the University of Santo Tomas (UST) graduate school gave the awards to relatives of the four nuns last February. "Last Feb. 16, relatives of Sisters Mary Consuelo Chuidian, Mary Concepcion Conti, Mary Virginia Gonzaga, and Mary Catherine Loreto of the Religious of the Good Shepherd congregation received on their behalf the San Antonino Pierozzi Posthumous Award, given to non-Thomasians who rendered extraordinary and exemplary services for others," a statement on the CBCP website cited UST student organ Varsitarian as saying. The four nuns were collectively known as the Cassandra Martyrs for their gallant saving of lives when the M/V Doña Cassandra sank on Nov. 20, 1983. At the time, they boarded the ferry from a port in Nasipit, Agusan del Norte to attend their congregation's meeting in Cebu along with two other nuns, a priest, and several church workers. Despite stormy seas caused by a typhoon, the inter-island ferry, which was allegedly overloaded, still set sail for Cebu. On the morning of Nov. 21, the sisters saw the ship's crew bailing water out of the hull. They alerted passengers about what they saw. When the boat started to capsize, the nuns shepherded the passengers by giving out life jackets, even if they did not have any safety gear for themselves. They also led many passengers to the safety of the life rafts until the ferry sank. Survivors recalled seeing the four nuns holding small children before they drowned in the shark-infested waters off Northeastern Mindanao. "Until the end, the four sisters showed selfless love and the desire to save lives, according to witnesses," the CBCP said. Of the 387 documented passengers and crew on board, about 200 died, including the four sisters and the other Church workers who were with them. More than 24 years later, the sisters are still remembered by their religious congregation. Organizations have also recognized the sisters' zeal and martyrdom, including the Bantayog ng mga Bayani Foundation founded by former Senate president Jovito Salonga. The UST graduate school also feted the four nuns for their advocacies in fostering inter-faith dialogues, education, and justice for the victims of human rights abuses during the Marcos regime. Chuidian, a 46-year-old superior of the St. Bridget Community in Davao, fearlessly documented human rights violations during the Marcos regime. She also led a movement against President Ferdinand Marcos, with the poor, oppressed and exploited Davaoeños supporting her. Conti chose education as her way of helping people. She spearheaded literacy programs for the Banwaan Manobos of Agusan. She also established a community-based health program in the Diocese of Tagum, training health workers to attend to the basic needs of the poor. Despite coming from an affluent family, 42-year-old Gonzaga chose to join the religious life. She fought for the rights of poor people and small workers in Cebu and supported interfaith dialogues between Christians and Muslims. Loreto, 39, was the youngest of the four nuns. She joined the campaign to protect the rights of political detainees and also helped the families of desaparecidos (victims of forced disappearances) during the Marcos regime. Sr. Marcia Caridad Mercado of the Religious of the Good Shepherd Sisters Philippines said she was honored to receive the award for her fallen sisters. "We at the Religious of the Good Shepherd Sisters are very happy with this recognition," Mercado told the Varsitarian. "The Cassandra Martyrs embodied the Good Shepherd Sisters' creed of laying down one's life for others." Mercado also said that the Vatican has requested for documents related to the heroism of the Cassandra Martyrs to facilitate their possible beatification. - GMANews.TV