Push Admin

'Kapag bumitaw ka, wala na': How Bianca Manalo was rescued

Article (news)

ABS-CBN News

<figure class="op-interactive"><div id="IVS_ABS_Video_Widget_1_Container"><ivs-player id="IVS_ABS_Video_Widget_1" allow="autoplay" data-ivs-key="e8c22c015ca9eafa76f1e3edfa03c603" data-ivs-spid="3001339" data-ivs-wid="f5fb7bd1-3880"></ivs-player><script src="https://player.ivideosmart.com/ivsplayer/v4/dist/js/loader.js"></script></div></figure><div class="iwantbar">Watch more in <a href="~//www.iwantv.com.ph/">iWantv</a> or <a href="~//tfc.tv/">TFC.tv</a></div><p>She nearly drowned after the boat she rode on with her boyfriend capsized off the coast of Antique late last month. </p><p>In an exclusive interview on &quot;Red Alert&quot; on Wednesday, Bianca Manalo shared more details about the harrowing experience, revealing how she struggled to breathe while trying to stay afloat for hours.</p><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="http://news.abs-cbn.com/entertainment/04/03/18/watch-emotional-bianca-manalo-recalls-ordeal">WATCH: Emotional Bianca Manalo recalls ordeal</a></li></ul><p>The actress and beauty queen recalled that she had to frantically find a way to catch her breath while being tossed around by strong waves, gesturing that her wet hair was covering the entirety of her face. </p><p>&quot;Grabe iyong hampas na hindi mo na maayos iyong buhok mo at hindi ka makahinga,&quot; she said. &quot;Kapag bumitaw ka para ayusin, wala na --ganoon kalakas iyong current at waves.&quot; </p><p>She also said that she tried to put on a brave face for her group, which included two minors, despite her fearing the worst for her politician-boyfriend, Jonathan Tan, who had to swim to shore for more than two hours to call for help. </p><p>&quot;Iniisip ko talaga na baka patay na sila. Walang makaka-survive mag-swimming sa ganoong kalakas na current,&quot; she thought. &quot;So iniisip ko talaga, &#x27;Lord, naghihintay ba kami sa wala?&#x27;&quot; </p><p>Still, she held back her tears --scared that she might not see her family again-- until she heard the sounds of rescue boats arriving. </p><p>&quot;I was the calmest one,&quot; she remembered. &quot;Hindi ako nagpakita ng taranta. Kalmadong kalmado ako. Noong nakita ko sila --hagulgol. Sigaw na ako ng sigaw.&quot; </p><p>&quot;Humagulgol na ako kasi iniisip ko na makikita ko ulit iyong pamilya ko, na buhay ako,&quot; she said. </p><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="http://news.abs-cbn.com/entertainment/04/02/18/watch-tearful-bianca-manalo-returns-to-fishing-village-to-thank-rescuers">WATCH: Tearful Bianca Manalo returns to fishing village to thank rescuers</a></li></ul><p>Looking back, Manalo admitted that her biggest regret was not using a life vest. She said that she knew the trip was short so she thought the chances of them getting into an accident was slim. </p><p>&quot;Walang nakaisip sa amin mag-suot ...Pag taob namin sa water ang unang pumasok sa isip ko, &#x27;Lord mamatay na ako. Huwag naman po,&#x27;&quot; she said. </p><p>How they were saved</p><figure class="op-interactive"><div id="IVS_ABS_Body_Video_2_Container"> <ivs-player id="IVS_ABS_Body_Video_2" data-ivs-spid="3001339" data-ivs-key="e8c22c015ca9eafa76f1e3edfa03c603" data-ivs-vid="1436138" data-ivs-floating="1"></ivs-player> <script src="https://player.ivideosmart.com/ivsplayer/v4/dist/js/iframe-parent.js"></script> <script src="https://player.ivideosmart.com/ivsplayer/v4/dist/js/loader.js"></script> </div></figure><div class="iwantbar">Watch more in <a href="~//www.iwantv.com.ph/">iWantv</a> or <a href="~//tfc.tv/">TFC.tv</a></div><p>In the same interview with &quot;Red Alert,&quot; Tan recounted swimming nearly four kilometers with a companion to seek help. </p><p>Wearing a single life vest and clinging on to a floating water container, he said that their ordeal felt impossible. </p><p>&quot;Malakas iyong current. Mga five times akong sumuka dahil may naiinom akong tubig at pumapasok sa ilong ko.&quot; </p><p>&quot;So hirap kami. Kapag napapagod ako, nagflo-float ako tapos sipa ako ng sipa. Tinanong ko nga iyong kasama ko kung umaandar ba kami dahil sa current feeling ko bumabalik lang kami,&quot; he said. </p><p>But their perseverance would pay off. Before even reaching the shore, a group of fishermen noticed them and they immediately headed for where they left their group. </p><p>&#x27;Si kuya hinimatay!&#x27;</p><p>Unfortunately, a member of their group died before rescue could arrive. Tan&#x27;s bodyguard and cousin, Bennie Dable, lost consciousness while clinging on to the side of their overturned speedboat. They suspected he suffered from a heart attack. </p><p>&quot;Ayaw namin mag-let go dahil parang lahat in denial eh sa kung ano ba iyong nangyayari,&quot; shared Manalo, who recalled seeing Dable frothing from his mouth. </p><p>But they knew that they had to at some point because they could not hang on to him and keep themselves safe at the same time due to the strong waves. &quot;Alam namin wala na eh kasi chineck namin and wala na talaga,&quot; she said. </p><p>Dable, whom they said did not know how to swim, was the only one of their group who wore a life vest before their boat overturned. He had to give it up to Tan, so that he could swim towards shore and save their group. </p>

<p>Bianca Manalo shared more details about the harrowing experience, revealing how she struggled to breathe while trying to stay afloat for hours.</p>

Bianca Manalo shared more details about the harrowing experience, revealing how she struggled to breathe while trying to stay afloat for hours.