A Boholano member of the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) receives an award from International Maritime Organization (IMO), a United Nations (UN) agency, for saving 62 people in a sinking vessel in 2019. The award ceremony was held recently in Manila (instead of London) because of the Coronavirus disease (Covid) pandemic.
Ensign Ralph Ofalla Barajan, of the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG), and a native of Cortes town, was among the awardees of the IMO Award 2020 for Exceptional Bravery at Sea.
He becomes the first Filipino and the first Southeast Asian to receive the said prestigious award.
Ensign Barajan, who finished his nursing studies at Holy Name University (HNU) received the award at the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) on Wednesday, Feb. 24, 2021, instead of London, where the awards are usually given out.
Barajan told The Bohol Tribune in a radio interview over Open Forum on Thursday, Feb. 25, 2021, that he is still “overwhelmed” by the accolade he received from the IMO. He added he is grateful for the honors bestowed on him.
In the same interview, he said that he received a plaque and a medal sans any cash prize.
The IMO Award for Exceptional Bravery at Sea is given annually to persons who have shown acts of exceptional bravery and who have risked their own lives in to save others at sea thereby preventing maritime environmental disasters.
Barajan was supposed to receive the award in 2020 but the awarding ceremony got delayed after the ceremonies in London were cancelled due to the pandemic.
Assistant Foreign Affairs Secretary Igor Bailen, of the DFA’s Maritime and Oceans Affairs Office (MOAO) handed to Barajan, 31, the plaque and the medal from the IMO.
According to reports, present during the award presentation were John Francis Herrera, of the DFA’s MOAO, and Rear Admiral Rolando Lizor Punzalan, chief of Coast Guard Staff
Barajan, who used to be a member of the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) substation in Tagbilaran, is now assigned in the PCG Nursing Service under Task Group Quarantine and Contact Tracing Facing.
On Nov. 7, 2019, Barajan, was on his way to report to the PCG substation in Southern Cebu. He was not on duty at that time and was one among the passengers of the ill fated MV Siargao Princess.
Reports say the said vessel departed Catagbacan Port in Loon town for Sibonga, Cebu with 55 passengers (including Barajan), and seven (7) crew members on board, making a total of 62 persons.
On the ship’s way to Cebu, the vessel was hammered by huge waves, and started to sink, throwing the ship’s passengers into panic.
And the brave Boholano Barajan immediately radioed for help from the PCG stations nearby.
While waiting for the PCG‘s rescue team, Barajan helped passengers by distributing lifejackets, asking people to stay calm and to remain seated to maintain the vessel‘s stability.
His act of bravery and presence of mind helped save the lives of 62 persons on board including Barajan.
Aside from Barajan, others persons who got the award were two pilots—Marcio Santos Teixeira and Fabio Rodrigues Alves de Abreau—who helped avert a major oil spill in Brazil.