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Relatives of MV Hong Hai 16 chief mate Cezar Monserate wait on the shore of Rizal, Occidental Mindoro on Apr. 18, 2025 while coast guard divers search the capsized ship for missing crew members. Dennis Datu, ABS-CBN News

Article (news)

Dennis Datu

ABS-CBN News

<div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1745112548596viber_image_2025-04-19_22-45-38-483.jpg" style="width:950px" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/>Relatives of MV Hong Hai 16 chief mate Cezar Monserate wait on the shore of Rizal, Occidental Mindoro on Apr. 18, 2025 while coast guard divers search the capsized ship for missing crew members. Dennis Datu, ABS-CBN News</div>OCCIDENTAL MINDORO — Evelyn Monserate and her two children Mary Kane and Bryle were the first and only relatives to arrive at the incident command post five days since sand carrier MV Hong Hai 16 capsized in the waters near Barangay Malawaan in Rizal, Occidental Mindoro.The family traveled all the way from Dasmariñas City in Cavite in search of their patriarch, 63-year-old Cezar Monserate, the chief mate of MV Hong Hai 16.Just a few meters away from the command post, the Monserate family could see the MV Hong Hai 16, which Philippine Coast Guard divers were actively searching for missing crew members.<div>NO EVENING CHAT</div>In an interview, Evelyn shared that the last time she chatted with her husband on Messenger was a little past 2 p.m last Tuesday.They were supposed to talk again around 5 p.m., when her husband would be getting ready for his 6 p.m. duty. It had been their daily routine for him to go online just before reporting for his shift.<div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/regions/2025/4/19/occidental-mindoro-to-halt-dredging-firm-s-operations-over-capsized-sand-carrier-1022">Occidental Mindoro to halt dredging firm&#x27;s operations over capsized sand carrier</a></div>“Nagwo-worry na ako dahil nga bakit hindi pa rin siya online, ” Evelyn recalled.(I was getting worried because he was not online)That prompted her to ask a cadet who had just disembarked from the ship to try to contact her husband. But even the other crew members could no longer be reached.By 8 p.m., she received heartbreaking news from the shipping company.&quot;Ang sabi, &#x27;huwag ka mabibigla&#x27;, yun ang sabi, &#x27;magdasal lang tayo&#x27;... Kasi daw lumubog na yung barko, hindi na sila makita.” Evelyn said.(They said &#x27;Don&#x27;t be shocked&#x27;. That&#x27;s what they said. &#x27;Let&#x27;s just pray.&#x27; They said the ship had capsized and they couldn&#x27;t find the crew members)<div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1745112584018viber_image_2025-04-19_22-45-36-779.jpg" style="width:950px" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/>Cezar Monserate&#x27;s grandson brought a note for him as the family traveled from Cavite to Mindoro in the hope that he was still alive. Dennis Datu, ABS-CBN News </div>Despite this, the Monserate family continued to hope that Cezar would still be found alive.Bryle even brought with him a letter from his 7-year-old child for his grandfather.“Dear Lolo Cezar, I’m waiting for you. I love you and I miss you. Mwah,” wrote Buddy Kuya Skye in the letter.Mary Kane was confident that her father could survive, saying he always prioritized safety when traveling.“Ang una niyang ichecheck kapag alam niyang sasakay kami ng barko, ng eroplano, nasaan ang lifejacket, nasaan ang mga exit? Alam naming ang una niyang hahanapin kung saan siya safe.&quot;(The first thing he would ask when traveling, when getting on a ship or an airplane is where the lifejackets and exits are. We know that he would look for a way to be safe)<div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/regions/2025/4/18/death-toll-in-capsized-vessel-in-occidental-mindoro-rises-to-6-5-still-missing-1823">Death toll in capsized vessel in Occidental Mindoro rises to 7; 4 still missing</a></div><div>MONSERATE&#x27;S BODY FOUND, IDENTIFIED</div>But after several hours of the family waiting at the incident command post, technical wreck divers from the coast guard&#x27;s Special Operations Force and Special Operations Group recovered a body in the accommodation area of the vessel.The Monserate family was called to identify the body, but Evelyn had difficulty breathing and had to be taken to an ambulance.Bryle said that, based on the clothing, he is certain the body was of his father&#x27;s.He couldn’t do anything but let his tears fall now that his father is gone.&quot;Sorry, Tay, mahal na mahal ka namin… sorry sa lahat,&quot; Bryle said tearfully.(Sorry, Tay. We love you very much. Sorry for everything)<div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1745112724002viber_image_2025-04-19_22-45-35-767.jpg" style="width:950px" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/>Relatives of MV Hong Hai 16 chief mate Cezar Monserate wait on the shore of Rizal, Occidental Mindoro on Apr. 18, 2025 while coast guard divers search the capsized ship for missing crew members. Dennis Datu, ABS-CBN News</div>Just last week, Cezar had told Evelyn about his plans to retire and return to Miag-ao, Iloilo to settle down.&quot;Eto dapat last na niyang sakay... Kasi ang plano, uwi na kami ng Iloilo for good pero sa nangyari yun ang pinakamasakit,&quot; she said.(This was supposed to be his last voyage... the plan was we would go home to Iloilo for good, but this happened)As of Saturday, seven fatalities have been confirmed from MV Hong Hai 16, with four crew members still missing.

The Monserate family had continued to hope that Cezar would still be found alive because of his years of experience at sea.

The Monserate family had continued to hope that Cezar would still be found alive because of his years of experience at sea.

Family travels from Cavite in time for recovery of MV Hong Hai 16 chief mate's body

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Family travels from Cavite in time for recovery of MV Hong Hai 16 chief mate's body

Dennis Datu,

ABS-CBN News

Published Apr 20, 2025 09:46 AM PHT

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Rizal

Occidental Mindoro

Cezar Monserate

ABSNews

MV Hong Hai 16

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