Our work
In memory of Leopoldo
When a Filipino fisher was lost at sea off the coast of Scotland, our ecumenical partners and the AOS international network were on hand to help
In March 2008, young Filipino fisher Leopoldo Basay Jnr lost his life while working off the coast of Eyemouth in Scotland. According to local reports, a wire on the boat snapped and Leopoldo lost his balance falling into the sea. He was not wearing a life jacket. An RAF helicopter and several life boats were launched but, after five hours, the search was called off as there was no longer any possibility of survival. Police divers were unable to recover Leopoldo's body from the North Sea.
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The town of Eyemouth in the Scottish Borders is home to a working fishing community. Pastoral care is offered to fishers by George Power of our ecumenical partners Royal National Mission to Deep Sea Fishermen. Recently, a number of fishers from the Philippines have been employed in the local industry. As many of these are Catholic, George liaises with AOS volunteer Jo Norton who is based just a few miles down the coast, over the border, in Berwick-upon-Tweed.
Jo spent time living among ex-patriate Filipino communities in Australia. As a ship visitor in Berwick-upon-Tweed, she frequently meets Filipino seafarers and offers them pastoral care. At George's request, Jo has supplied faith articles such as rosaries and prayer books to the Filipino fishers working in Eyemouth. She has also occasionally supplied them with clothing.
According to Jo, Eyemouth is a small, closeknit community in which the Filipino fishers are greatly appreciated, particularly by the trawler skippers for whom they work. When Leopoldo was lost at sea, Mass was said at St Andrew's Catholic Church in Eyemouth which George Power attended along with 12 Filipino fishers who knew Leopoldo. The Eyemouth Fishermen's Mutual Association collected money which they wished to send to Leopoldo's family in the Philippines.
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In order to ensure that the money reached the family directly, we contacted our AOS colleagues in the Philippines. Fr Victor Labao, national director of AOS Philippines, made a three hour journey to visit Leopoldo's family at their home. He reports that Leopoldo's father is a subsistence farmer in a mountain village outside Cebu. Leopoldo also had a partner who lives on another island in the Philippine archipelago. She is intending to spend time with his family so that they can support each other in their grief.
The family gave Fr Victor bank account details so that the money collected by the people of Eyemouth can be transferred securely. Fr Victor has passed these to George Power together with this message:
The family requested me to convey to you and to the members of the Eyemouth Fishermen's Mutual Association their gratitude for your goodwill and kind generosity.
Jo Norton wished to make a personal gesture of support to Leopoldo's family. She discussed the matter with her local branch of the St Vincent de Paul Society and they decided to buy a small statue of Our Lady of Lourdes to send to the family. A photo of the statue has been circulated among Leopoldo's friends in Eyemouth. In addition, Jo sent a rosary and a personal letter of condolence to each member of the family.
In this time of tragedy, AOS GB is grateful for the excellent ecumenical co-operation of George Power of the Royal National Mission to Deep Sea Fishermen. We are also fortunate to be able to call on the dedication of Fr Victor Labao and all our colleagues in the AOS international network.
click here for contact details of AOS in Berwick-upon-Tweed
click here to read more about AOS Philippines on the AOS international website