Cebu Daily News / News

http://globalnation.inquirer.net/cebudailynews/news/view_article.php?article_id=213646

Kin of Filipina in crash hopes for a miracle By Jhunnex Napallacan Cebu Daily News Posted date: July 03, 2009 THE family of flight stewardess Camille Lou Castillo Libron is praying for a miracle that she survived the plane crash. “Although the chances are slim, we cannot help but hope,” said Camilus, Camille's older brother. He pointed that Yemenia Airways only confirmed that his sister was the lone Filipino crew member who was among the 153 people on board the aircraft that crashed in the Indian Ocean on Monday. Camilus said the airline company had not confirmed that her body was found, contrary to the statement earlier given by a cousin. Camilus, 29, the eldest of three siblings, said their family was still waiting for more information from the airline company. “We were about to believe that she was really gone because no survivors had been found several days after the crash but we still hope that she's a survivor... she was strong-willed so maybe she survived, and she's also good,” he said in Cebuano. Camilus said they had asked for more information from the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) and the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) but both government agencies could also not provide any news since the Yemenia Airways refused to give them more information. He said that on Tuesday, someone had called the attention of their family about the Yemenia airline crash which was reported on CNN because it was the same airline company where Camille worked for three years and not one year as earlier reported. Camilus said he immediately called up his sister but there was no answer. The family then called up the Yemenia Airways. But the airline company did not give them a direct answer until Tuesday afternoon when it confirmed that Camille was the Filipino crew member on board flight 626. Camille was not supposed to be on board the plane but was asked to pinch-hit for a Malaysian flight attendant who was on leave. Camilus said the airline company just told them that the search operation for the missing crew members and passengers was being conducted. But so far, only one survivor was found. After receiving vague reports from the Yemenia Airways, Camilus said they sought the help of the government. If she indeed died in the plane crash, the Libron’s only request was for the government to fast-track the repatriation of her remains. “We would like the government to expedite news of whether or not she is dead. If she is dead, we hoped her body would be immediately brought back to the Philippines,” said Camilus, a dentist. The Libron family has been waiting for further news in Cavite, where Camilus is based. Camilus said their mother has been staying with him because Camille and Carlo Ben, 28 were supposed to come home this month. Carlo Ben, a seaman, arrived yesterday as scheduled. Camille was supposed to return to the Philippines on July 5 and their father Camelo, also a seaman, was to come home on July 15. Although the Libron family had not planned a reunion, the entire family was supposed to be together this month. The Libron family hails from Calatrava town, Negros Occidental, but the family built a home in San Carlos City when the Libron children were still in high school. But they went to Cebu City to get a college decree. Camilus took up dentistry at the Southwestern University; Carlo Ben finished his maritime course at the University of Cebu; and Camille got her interior design degree at the University of San Carlos, and not University of Cebu as reported yesteday. Before Camille worked as a flight stewardess, she tried her hand in designing the interior of a supermarket in Cebu City. She also worked in a call center in Manila. The family also clarified reports that a man claiming to be Camille's husband reported the incident to the Philippine Embassy in Riyadh. Camilus said Camille was single and did not even have a boyfriend.