Torres asks for prayers for untimely passing of Palauan voyager

Gov. Ralph DLG Torres has expressed his condolences to the family of a deceased crewmember apart of one of the voyaging delegations visiting Guam for this year’s Festival of the Pacific Arts.

Torres, in a statement, said he expresses his condolences—on behalf of the CNMI delegation—to the family of Alingano Maisu crewmember Murais Sebangiol. The Maisu, a Polynesian double-hulled voyaging canoe, and its crew graced Saipan with a visit this month amid other stops at Pacific islands on its sea voyage to Guam.

“I met Murais when master navigator Sesario Sewralur and his crew came to Saipan,” said Torres in the statement.

“It was shocking to me personally to learn of his untimely passing. I ask the CNMI delegation to join me, Palau Community College president Patrick Tellei, and Sesario Sewralur, and many others in prayers for the wife and children of Murais,” he said.

Palau Community College also expresses its deepest condolences to the family, relatives, and friends of the late Sebangiol.

Sebangiol was an employee of Palau Community College where he worked as a heavy equipment operator at the Maintenance Division. He began working at the college in 2008. Sebangiol was from the state of Melekeok, according to PCC in a statement.

During his time at PCC, Sebangiol joined the Non-Instrumental Navigation Program in order to learn about the traditional practices of seafaring without the use of modern instruments. Under the tutelage of Sewralur, Sebangiol and the other navigation students learned how to sail the oceans using traditional techniques such as analyzing wind conditions and navigating by the stars,” the college said.

“Mr. Sebangiol was able to apply his traditional seafaring knowledge by joining the crew of the Alingano Maisu which began its journey from Palau to Guam in March of this year. The voyage was part of the 2016 Festival of Pacific Arts (FestPac2016).

As a crew member of the Alingano Maisu, Sebangiol spent the last two and half months sailing to the following islands: Ngulu, Woleai, Ifalik, Lomotrek, Satawal, West Fayu, Saipan, and Guam. He had reached the island of Guam in time for the opening ceremony only to meet his untimely passing.

“The Board of Trustees, administration, faculty, staff, and students of Palau Community College would like to recognize Mr. Sebangiol for his great achievement of sailing many miles to reach Guam. His presence will be greatly missed on the college campus, even more so by the crew members who had the opportunity to sail by his side,” PCC said.

FestPac kicked off its 12th iteration with an opening ceremony two weeks ago in Guam that joined 250 delegations from across the Pacific to celebrate and share their cultures.