Family, friends remember 13 fishermen

 For Florence Kirby, 25 years seemed to have passed by so fast since her brother, Silvestre R. Selepeo, passed away.

“Maybe it’s because we’ve been celebrating every year. All of a sudden, 25 years is here,” she said in an interview.

Kirby’s brother is among the 13 local fishermen who disappeared at sea while on board M/V Olwol which set off for a fishing expedition to the Northern Islands on Sept. 23, 1986.

The other fishermen were Joseph T. Lisua, Martin L. Saures, Pedro L. Mettao, Joseph R. Kaipant, Benusto M. Lisua, Juan Benusto R. Olopai, Isidro R. Romolor, Jovencio C. Falguera, Joaquin L. Moteisou, Jose T. Igisaiar, Enrique L. Moteisou, and Guillermo Saures.

The names of the 13 fishermen were engraved in a memorial monument along Beach Road. Two other names of fishermen, Emilio T. Lisua and Antonio S. Fitial, were also etched on the monument since they passed away on the same day.

Family members and friends gathered at the monument on Friday to observe the 13 fishermen’s silver death anniversary.

“We look back and we don’t feel bad or sad anymore. Missing them, yes. We still do. I guess you just never forget,” Kirby told Saipan Tribune.

Friday’s event featured a mass officiated by Fr. Celso Magbanua Jr. followed by a cultural ceremony wherein the fishermen’s families launched to sea coconut husks containing flowers, symbolizing the families letting go of the pain of losing their loved ones that fateful day.

Tom Tebuteb, who had nephews among the 13 fishermen and are related to most of them through extended family, said the death commemoration is also an opportunity “to perpetuate our sense of family.”

“It shows a sense of togetherness, honor, and respect, particularly to those who help the families for the celebration,” he said. “It also serves as a reminder that we need to keep the faith in dealing with our loss.”

Tebuteb said that they also made an offering of fish “to maintain our sense of good luck and respect for the elements of the sea and land together.”

“It’s a long tradition that’s sort of vanishing. We just wanted to do it,” he added.

But for Alicia Odoshi of Tottotville, 25 years seemed only like yesterday. “It’s still very painful for us to look back and think that all of them perished out there in the sea. Some of the families still can’t accept that they’re gone.”

Odoshi, however, noted that the ceremony was “so touching” and they believe that the 13 fishermen are now “in a better place.”

All attending family members and friends also feasted on a buffet of local dishes.