Eleven years ago today, I lost my mother in a sea tragedy. She was one of the passengers of the M/V Viva Antipolo VII, which caught fire and sank when it was only 30 minutes away from the port of Lucena City.

Before the accident happened, Mama and I had been preparing for my first semester in the University of the Philippines. After we had fulfilled the prerequisites for enrollment, she went back to Marinduque to raise money for my tuition. While she was there, she received an invitation for me to apply for a private scholarship grant. She hurriedly accomplished the application forms, secured the required documents, and sailed back to the city aboard the ill-fated ferry.

When rescuers found Mama’s body, she was clutching her bag that had the scholarship application forms and some cash, among other things. Continue reading →