The squall that capsized three boats in the Iloilo Strait between this city and Guimaras Island past noon on Saturday did not only kill people. It also broke hearts and dashed dreams. The casualties included, among others, a man planning to marry his long-time partner and teachers hoping to earn their master’s degree. As of 5:30 p.m. yesterday, 27 boat passengers were confirmed to have died and six remained missing. According to survivor Maria Nieves Grandeza, 28, the weekend trip from Guimaras, her home province, to Iloilo City was supposed to be a happy one. Hours before the tragedy, her family met the family of her long-time Cebu-based partner for the customary palamaye – the Filipino tradition of a man and his family visiting his future bride’s family to ask for her hand in marriage.

Tayona, G. & Silubrico, R. (2019, August 5). Shattered dreams: questions raised as sea tragedy breaks hearts. Panay News, pp. 1, 14.