{"id":413873,"date":"2024-09-25T14:00:00","date_gmt":"2024-09-25T14:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.saipantribune.com\/?p=413873"},"modified":"-0001-11-30T00:00:00","modified_gmt":"-0001-11-29T14:00:00","slug":"Their-memories-live-on-through-families-and-friends","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.saipantribune.com\/index.php\/Their-memories-live-on-through-families-and-friends\/","title":{"rendered":"\u2018Their memories live on through families and friends\u2019"},"content":{"rendered":"

The 13 fishermen who never returned to Saipan 38 years ago were commemorated in a memorial service last Monday afternoon at the monument named after them\u2014the 13 Fishermen Memorial Monument\u2014along Beach Road in Garapan.<\/p>\n

The names of the 13 fishermen engraved in the monument were Isidro R. Romolor, Juan Benusto R. Olopai, Silvestre R. Selepeo, Benusto M. Lisua, Joseph T. Lisua, Joaquin L. Motesou, Joseph R. Kaipat, Emilio T. Lisua, Guillermo Saures, Jovincio C. Falguera, Jose T. Igaslar, Martin T. Saures, and Pedro L. Mettao,<\/p>\n

Families and friends of the departed fishermen gathered in the memorial service along with Gov. Arnold I. Palacios, Lt. Gov. David M. Apatang, House Speaker Edmund Villagomez (Ind-Saipan), Senate President Edith DeLeon Guerrero (D-Saipan), Sen. Corina Magofna (Ind-Saipan), Saipan Mayor Ramon \u201cRB\u201d B. Camacho, floor leader Rep. Edwin Propst (D-Saipan), Rep. Marissa Flores (Ind-Saipan), and John Oliver Gonzales.<\/p>\n

Villagomez delivered a message before the mass and emphasized the importance of honoring those who have passed and explained the importance of the yearly gathering to remember the 13 fishermen who lost their lives at sea 38 years ago.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe celebrate and honor our families who have gone before us, most especially the 13 fishermen. We gather every year to remember them and continue to pray for them and their families. It has been 38 years since they lost their lives at sea, but their memories live on to the families and friends,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

Villagomez also reflected on the significance of 38 years, describing it as a generational period for the families.<\/p>\n

Moreover, Villagomez expressed his gratitude to the families for preserving the stories of the deceased over the years. He acknowledged various groups including the committee, and government agencies for their contributions to the event.<\/p>\n

Meanwhile, Winona Wabol Santos, who is married to the son of Guillermo Saures, shared with Saipan Tribune that her husband, Guillermo Santos, was in the womb of his mother when the incident happened. The younger Guillermo carried his mother\u2019s family name \u201cSantos\u201d and was born in December of 1986, which is three months after Saures\u2019 disappearance.<\/p>\n

\u201cTo what I was told, they were told not to go out because there\u2019s a storm coming in, and they went out, just never came back,\u201d said Santos.<\/p>\n

The husband of Santos and Saures\u2019 son was not able to join this year\u2019s commemoration due to work, but every year they visit the monument to visit her husband\u2019s father.<\/p>\n

Santos also shared that her husband also loves to fish but doesn\u2019t eat fish just like her father-in-law. She expressed fear for her husband\u2019s safety while fishing that\u2019s why she has to make sure that someone has to be with him, to ensure his safe return.<\/p>\n

Mayor Camacho, who was a police officer 38 years ago, recounted the Department of Public Safety\u2019s involvement in the search operation that lasted for seven days.<\/p>\n

\u201cI was involved in the aerial search aboard an airplane. There\u2019s also police boat and charter vessels that headed down to the Northern Islands and all those things as they continued to search in those areas. It\u2019s really a touchy case because the majority are Carolinians and local and you know how local people when they know somebody, they all get together. So, there were a lot of volunteers and family members and they were all just in the dark waiting every day until the search is done. It\u2019s very sad,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

Camacho added that the Division of Parks and Recreation continues to maintain and beautify the 13 Fishermen Memorial Monument and the Saipan Mayor’s Office deploys personnel to water blast the area.<\/p>\n

Father Rey Rosal officiated the mass and the event was concluded with dinner.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

The 13 fishermen who never returned to Saipan 38 years ago were commemorated in a memorial service last Monday afternoon at the 13th Fishermen Memorial Monument along Beach Road in Garapan.<\/p>\n

-RACQUEL FLOYD
<\/figcaption><\/figure>

<\/p>\n

Gov. Arnold I. Palacios with Florence Kirby, Lt. Gov. David M. Apatang, Rep. Marissa Flores (Ind-Saipan), Daisy Propst, and Rep. Edwin Propst (D-Saipan) pose for a photo after the memorial service.<\/p>\n

-RACQUEL FLOYD
<\/figcaption><\/figure>

<\/p>\n

Winona Wabol Santos stands beside her father-in-law Guillermo Saures\u2019 monument.<\/p>\n

-RACQUEL FLOYD
<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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