The typhoon forecast was due North West, so not on the path of the storm 29 fishermen from the Northeastern provinces of the Philippines put out to sea. But then, the recent typhoon veered and took the North East direction instead, hitting the fishermen directly. What was then a fishing expedition turned into a nightmarish ordeal for survival.
The fishing boat was heavily battered by the onslaught of the storm as strong waves and howling wind capsized and split to pieces the small vessel. Naturally the fishermen were thrown into the sea, but 12 miraculously survived and clung to what was left of the boat. By early morning they found that the boat flag was still intact, and to catch attention they had it flying erect.
Then as they drifted listlessly, cold, heavy rain and hunger took its toll. As they lay inutile and hopeless for a while, the majority could not endure the hunger and seeing that not a thing to eat is available, took hold of the boat flag and started munching on it. They actually survived with only the
boat flag as food.
So, for four horrible days and nights they braved the weather and finally were washed ashore 300 miles away from their point of origin. People from the locality brought them to the nearest hospital for treatment.
When TV crews of the local station saw them at the hospital, despite being weak from exhaustion, hunger and starvation, all the twelve were cheerful and one in the conclusion that what saved them from possible demise was the boat flag that served as their sustenance.
Lately though, with the aid of the air force helicopter they were brought back to their respective provinces.
by:
The Flagman
