THE POPE WHO LIVED A Piracy Survivor’s Tale

HUMAN INTEREST

words by: MDPN. FRANCIS C. BALDEMOR & D/C FRANZESCA MARI B. BAUTISTA illustrations by: MDPN. ARCYNE JOHN SERMENO

Everything happened within seconds—the reverberating sound, the sudden pain, and the smell of iron. Pope ran but he couldn’t beat the 7.62mm bullet that penetrated his skin. The pain burned from the bones of his right hand. Blood burst like a fountain, leaving traces on the cold metal floor. The gushing of the red liquid passed through his blurry vision. Vermilion changed to black; fear made him lose consciousness.

They came in the night. The high-pitched whine of their boat was unnoticed, they dropped off their makeshift ladder on the deck. They swayed to the howls of the wind, carrying assault rifles and belts of knives slung across their tilted shoulders.

They were savages—fierce, violent, and uncontrolled. Their eyes were bloodshot; their skin was covered in slashes. Their clothes were worn. Their bodies were strong.

Pope Estinoco, then a 24-year-old seafarer, was doing his security rounds at the deck when he saw a ladder being latched. His cold, curious gaze narrowed to a squint as he was probing for information. Men suddenly materialized out of the murk. To no surprise, his instinct was true: PIRATES!

Pope was among the eight seafarers abducted on December 31, 2019, aboard a chemical and oil tanker, anchored in the coastal waters of Cameroon. He was an Ordinary Seaman (OS) at a Greek shipping company, who graduated from John B. Lacson Foundation Maritime University (Arevalo), Inc. They would be held hostage for the next 21 days.

The maritime industry is dangerous. Conditions of work hazards, long voyages, accidents, and outside forces like pirate abduction can take a heavy toll on crew members’ health. A growing body of research over the past twenty years has demonstrated the effects that intense and upsetting experiences like being a victim of maritime piracy can have on survivors.

Numerous seafarers are subject to the anxiety of passing through high-risk zones. Hostage situations are associated with a noticeably higher chance of developing posttraumatic stress.

Moreover, the trauma affects not only seafarers but the families who are left behind in their home country. A sizable portion of the hostages’ families exhibits long-lasting behavioral impacts as a result of their experiences.

According to Selye (2016), 25.77% of former piracy hostages have symptoms consistent with post-traumatic stress.

For Pope and his family, the trauma of captivity and release from the pirate hellhole lives were more than just a mere number.

The Family’s melodrama

Pope’s mother, Mary Anne Estinoco, was working at the bank when she learned the news that her son was abducted.

“Nagtumbo-tumbo ako. Naga-hibi. Ginpakompirma ko sa kapitan nga nagtawag kung bata ko gid man ang gin-abduct. Ikaw bala ulihi mo na mabal-an ang balita nga ginhulog pa ‘ya ang bata ko sa dagat samtang duguan (I was jumping. I was crying. I was asking the Captain that called us to confirm if it was really my child who was abducted. I learned later that my bleeding child was thrown into the ocean),” she said.

The 21 days in the hands of pirates was a painstaking agony for Pope’s family. It was a mixture of tireless waiting for updates, sleepless nights, and unrelentless overthinking.

“May ara punto nga one week, wala ako nagakatulog sang intsakto. Kada udto, nagakadto ako sa simbahan kag maghagulgul hibi nga nagaluhod. Wala ako gana magkaon (It came to a point when I was not able to sleep properly for a week. In the middle of the day, I would go to church and cry while praying on my knees. I did not have the appetite to eat),” she explained.

Pope’s liberation from captivity has released his family’s agony from its tight grip. For one of them, however, the memories keep coming back. There were days when Mary Anne would see sudden pictures of men kicking her son or hear the murmur of Pope’s voice screaming for help.

POPE ESTINOCO

“Bilib ako gani kay Pope. Unlike sa akon, may ara adlaw nga gaflashbacks. Pero, kis-a ginalambing ko lang sa, gadula man dayun. Ang importante nakita ko ang bata ko nga buhi (I’m very amazed by Pope. Unlike me, he doesn’t get flashbacks. Sometimes, I just talk to him to stop the flashbacks. What’s important is that my child is alive),” said Mary Ann.

The Victim’s ordeal

“I thought of taking the ladder, but instead I ran. Because of that, they shot me. That was my last memory on the ship. Every time a gunshot rang out around the camp, our guards would threaten to shoot us. It was so awful,” Pope recollected, the patch of healed stitches from an AK47 shot on his hand still visible.

The heavily armed pirates journeyed from Cameroon to Nigeria with their hostages—five Greeks, two Filipinos, and a Ukrainian. Meanwhile, Pope was unconscious for nine days. He heard voices—blurred, fuzzy, and unclear. He could not open his eyes. And when he did, he was faced with the stench of a rotten smell, covered with insect bites, and surrounded by his crew’s tired eyes.

“We were the only captives in the camp. Breakfast consists of a boiled egg, noodles at lunch, and dinner generally consists of bread. In the same swamp where the pirates and captives defecated, we took a bath. I often think of my mom crying every night, my father standing by my mother’s side, and my brother taking care of them both,” he exclaimed.

Pope bears the pain of his agonizingly sore hand with swamp water to clean the wound. There were days when fear consumed him, and the hope of living blurred. His body would start to tremble; his hair would elevate. Because he had attempted to unlatch the ladder from the ship, the pirates’ prying eyes and actions always singled him out. Fortunately, a deal was agreed upon by his company and the pirates—a huge sum of money in exchange for their release.

“The 21 days we were held hostage were much less unsettling than the rescue. We thought it was a trap when the pirates instructed us to leave. Only when we spotted our Greek superintendent did we realize that we were safe,” said Pope.

The Seafarer’s Future and Beyond

The negative psychological effect piracy has on seafarers is significant and long-lasting. But, it also demonstrates the resilience of seafarers in the face of adversity (Selye, 2016).

“Abi ko san-o indi nako magbalik sa barko. Sang nakapasar ako sa isa ka business processes outsourcing company, hambal ko final na ni. Siguro calling ko gid man ang seafaring industry (I thought I would never come back to the ship. When I passed the screening for a business outsourcing company, I said to myself: this is already final). After a twist of fate in Asurion, I left my financially stable job,” Pope relinquished.

Pope still continued his seafaring career despite his past unhopeful predicament. He is fortunate that with the aid of his family, friends, crewmates, and strong connection with God, he was able to move beyond his past and revive himself from trauma. Now, 27-year-old Pope is a third officer at the same company.

“Daw wala ko abi sense of direction sa iban nga opportunities (I didn’t feel a sense of direction in other opportunities). I was mentally and emotionally ready to go to the ship,” he added.

Pope recovered his balance as he walked through the narrow platform leading to the watertight door of a small boat. The engine started thumping; his vision jittered with the vibration. As he steadied himself, the scar in his palm kissed the cold fiberglass chair.

The shore from the window started moving. Countless waves passed. Unlike the last time, he’s now fully aware of what is happening. He saw a ladder prepared in its midship– this time it is he who will be boarding the ship.

The vision of the past crept in, but he managed to vanish it in an instant. Pope is now braver than before. Considering himself a survivor, not a victim, he moved forward. He is now on his last step on the ladder. As he rose from the ship’s side, the gentle breeze of the afternoon welcomed him, and the scene became warmer as his family at sea offered him an excited smile.

This will be a tougher journey for Pope who lives. However, he is not someone trapped in his past but rather a brave sailor whose spirit remains steadfast against the waves that try to shatter it.

Piracy in Africa

“Sometimes, I would listen to my captors’ stories. It seems that they were using piracy as a form of retaliation against their government for stealing oil from their villages,” Pope said.

The Gulf of Guinea in West Africa serves as a gateway and a strategic point of entry to the Sahel, Lake Chad region, and the Atlantic Ocean. According to the International Maritime Bureau (IMB), it remains the piracy hotspot in the world, accounting for nearly 43% of all reported cases of piracy. It outpaced the records in Somalia.

Over $500 million is lost to piracy each year in the nations that border the Gulf. The average ransom for non-African hostages has more than doubled in recent years from $15,000 per non-African hostage in 2014 to as much as $40,000 per non-African in 2019. Meanwhile, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) revealed that in 2008 one Filipino seafarer was kidnapped every six hours somewhere in the world. Filipino seafarers have accounted for most of the piracy attacks. One Filipino seafarer is thought to be present aboard a ship for every four to five crew members (Business Mirror, 2022).

ENVIRONMENT

THE STRONGHOLD’S REBIRTH

words by: MDPN. JOHN FRANCIS M. BABIERA & MDPN. ARCYNE JOHN N. SERMENO

The living Earth coughs as each tree falls flat on the solid fertile soil. The scornful heat during April and the heavy rains of June brings the green vegetation of the land with virgin forests as sanctuaries. To those who chirp, hiss, and growl this place is home during monstrous typhoons. The soil gives life, and animals of different shapes and sizes wake up to live their everyday lives as the sun rises East; an indication of blossoming life.

photos from: Forestland Management Project Iloilo-DENR 6

The Stronghold of Life

According to the Philippine Deforestation Rates and Statistics by the Global Forest Watch (GFW), in 2010, Iloilo had 13.2 mega hectares of natural forest, extending over 62% of its land area. With this vast amount of forests, most of which is found at the center of Lambunao, Iloilo– a town where Jalaur Basin is located– a stronghold protecting floras and fauna exists. It had 14.7kilo hectares (or 58% of Lambunao) covered by natural forest.

Jalaur Basin is part of The Greater Negros– an ecoregion of Panay rainforest that consists of several islands, namely the larger Negros, Panay, Cebu, and several smaller islands. But, like most islands in the Philippines, the forests in this area are cleared for logging, agriculture expansion, human settlements, and unsustainable use of natural resources.

The Deterioration

In the latest statistics of GFW, the said area already lost a total of 22.7 hectares of natural forest. These forestlands were turned into agricultural lands and lumber plantations – a necessity to sustain another living human being. Ironically though, deforestation cuts down trees thay absorb carbon dioxide, and results in the emission of millions of tons of greenhouse gases.

Illegal loggers started waking up from upfront exploitation and were converted into Forest rangers, now protecting the stronghold of life.

These in return suffocate and destroy every living being due to air pollution and extreme weather conditions.

When people in the metropolis become comfy turning their calendars, the adverse effect of pollution and the insatiable greed of illegal loggers grow. The forestlands that we know, steadily dwindle in numbers as each page of the calendar from the same butchered tree is crumpled. As these unsolicited killings of flora and fauna expand, the felicity of these men with paper money in their pockets is obvious. The riches grow as forests and creatures perish; a sad investment for a short-term future.

The Restoration

The good news is, nature is incredibly resilient and broken ecosystems can bounce back to health when given enough effort and the right direction. To combat the continuing threat of forest loss, the Forestland Management Program (FMP) ensures the protection of the natural forests. The FMP is a ten-year Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) - Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) project with the goal of improving forest management in three important river basins through the use of coordinated and all-encompassing Community-Based Forest Management (CBFM) techniques.

The rehabilitation of degraded forest lands especially in Jalaur River which began in 2012 ended last July 2022. Illegal loggers started waking up from upfront exploitation and were converted into Forest rangers, now protecting the stronghold of life. With their conservative efforts in the community, Lambunao gained 119 hectares of tree cover region-wide, equal to 4.7% of all tree cover gained in Iloilo.

The project scaled at a pace that insured winning the race of making the hills green. It was not too fast or slow, but it was sure to hit its goal. A goal to revive what was lost, a second chance for the souls, and a lesson to tame the greed that grows. The forest once dying, carved, and choked is now growing, giving its best for another shot in life. A life where it would selflessly serve others’ beings rather than itself–attesting to be a true triad of nature.

The full-pocketed loggers are now a mere shadow. The people that once slaughtered the land now cry for it to grow. In a twist of faith, these men with greed sowed generosity. Their voices together with their actions depict a fight for revolt and change. Because of these people, the realization that a seed is a life worth fighting is a tomorrow better than today.

Forest Gain The Land Revived

The lands may be restored, making it possible for the forest and humans to co-exist. However, without a change of hearts and minds, evil will rise again and root itself deeper into the soil. Planting more trees proved that it is not enough. Nurturing and growing our hearts for nature will certainly create an impact.

Days, months, and years flow like the water nearby the mountains. The silhouette of a once barren land gradually turns back into a greenish forest. The trees that yield shade and life, now a twighave been revived to provide the same amenities and restart the cycle. Even with adversaries, the vision of revival for these roots is yet to be pitied. The dedication of Earth to live and support the souls of both righteous and wicked remains at the pedestal of biodiversity.

119 HECTARES

OF TREES

From 2000 to 2020, Lambunao, Iloilo gained 119 hectares of tree cover region-wide, equal to 4.7% of all tree cover gain in Iloilo. As of 2000, 39% of Lambunao, Iloilo was Natural Forest Cover.

16.4 kilohectares

OF NATURAL FOREST

source: https://www.globalforestwatch.org/