CEBU CITY: 24 August 2010 -- If the young John Bosco sometimes
punned on his name, to mean 'backwoods' or 'soft' instead of 'hard',
there are 40 boys from Don Bosco Technological Centre in Cebu who are
convinced, this week, that their saintly patron was the tree that saved
them from certain death, as their runaway bus plunged backwards over a
500 foot ravine - to be held finally, by an Agojo (pine) tree, planted
32 years ago by a local resident. The bus remained precariously
dangling over the edge as those who had not jumped earlier, managed to
exit. Local residents called for help.
The incident occurred near Dalaguete town in
southern Cebu as the students and their Salesian and lay assistants
headed for the Retreat House at Mantalongon. The bus radiator had
overheated, and the driver had removed the cap to investigate when he
was struck on the leg by scalding steam. He leaped out of the seat in
pain and the bus, in neutral, moved backwards and picked up speed
towards the ravine.
A number of students and staff managed to jump for
their lives, others remained trapped. Minor injuries were sustained by
some 30 of the passengers and they, along with staff, were taken to the
local medical centre. No-one was seriously injured. Fr Randy
Figuracion of DBTC, said in interview that DBTC will be covering any
medical expenses incurred in the incident. His sister, Flora Mae,
more commonly and affectionately known as 'Boots', was accompanying the
group and reportedly sustained a broken nose. _________________ AustraLasia is an
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Rome.
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