Doña Paz tragedy - the worst peacetime maritime tragedy ever

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(in memoraire: Mila Lopez) i just can't help it. my wife was watching tv and the show presents the 10 worst tragedies to ever happen in the Philippines. at 2nd was the Doña Paz tragedy, and i suddenly remembered my mother. this is what makes me so proud of her. c',) MV Doña Paz sank near Marinduque and Oriental Mindoro, Philippines in December 20, 1987 when it collided with the oil tanker MT Vector, which was loaded with petroleum. it was the worst peacetime maritime tragedy ever. the number of deaths are way past the Titanic death toll of more than a thousand. the death toll of the Doña Paz tragedy was estimated to have reached 4000. the ship only had 1,493 passengers listed in the ship's passenger manifest. some died after falling off and drowned, some were eaten by sharks. only 24 people survived after being rescued from the burning waters. the saddest thing about this tragedy is that no one was held responsible (as far as i know). this story may not make such an impact to some people. but to those who were rescued, and to those families who lost their loved ones, this is one story they'll never forget. as for me, i'm not involved in that tragedy. i was merely 6yrs. old when it happened. but this is one story i will never hesitate to tell. why? because my mother was the head of the rescue mission of this tragedy. c",)