I thought I am an ocean away from the MV Princess of the Stars tragedy.
Last night, while watching TV Patrol, I saw a familiar face among the photos being flashed, but dismissed it as just a striking resemblance of a very good friend. How could it be? She lives in Chiba Prefecture, Japan. I know that she frequently travels to Cebu, because she has recently started a business there and has reportedly found a new inspiration after a string of heartaches. But she usually travels by plane.
Just a month ago, she called me to inform me about a Japanese lower court decision being overturned by an appelate court in her favor, giving her rights to the properties of her late Japanese husband, which are being claimed by her in-laws. I have interpreted and translated for her during the litigation.
Teresita "Sheilla" Okabe is one of the Filipinas who made it big in Japan through hardwork and despite overwhelming personal struggles. But her zest for life is unquenchable--she always greets you with a wide smile and dismisses every piece of bad news with hopeful anticipation of better things to come.
How can I forget her? A few years back, I inteviewed her for a newspaper with another successful Filipina entrepreneur, Rosalinda Honda, who is also a widow like her. I thought their lives had strikingly many similarities. To our amazement, we found out in a dinner I arranged for them with my wife that they were in fact cousins! And the last time they've crossed paths was when they were still very small children.
You may check out this interview at
http://www.philippinestoday.net/2003/August/interview1_803.htmThis morning, her cousin Rosalinda called me up in tears. I was shaken, because I saw the same image last night but dismissed it as a remote possibility. I double-checked the MV Princess of the Stars manifest, and unmistakably, among the unrecovered victims so far is Teresita Okabe a.k.a. Sheilla.
Goodbye, my friend...
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