One year ago, she was carried by strong water current inside the Sumaging Cave of Sagada, Mountain Province  http://www.interaksyon.com/article/68931/search-continues-for-woman-trapped-in-cave-but-all-other-tourists-rescued

Search continues for woman trapped in cave, but all other tourists rescued

By: Arthur L. Allad-iw/Northern Dispatch
August 19, 2013 7:32 PM

Scenic Sagada in Northern Luzon, seen in file photo. Thirty tourists were rescued from Sumaging cave in the province, after monsoon rains caused a flash flood inside the popular cave Sunday.

InterAksyon.com
The online news portal of TV5

BAGUIO CITY – All but one of 31 people trapped inside the Sumaging Cave of Sagada, Mountain Province at the height of heavy rains and flashfloods Sunday have been rescued, local officials said.

Thirty people, 22 of them foreign and local tourists, were rescued in two batches late Sunday afternoon and evening inside the cave where they were trapped as water during monsoon-induced heavy rains swamped the place on Sunday, August 18.

The lone missing member of the cave tour group, a 49-year-old woman from Pangasinan who was swept away by flashfloods, is the subject of a massive search and rescue involving 100 volunteers.

Local officials of Sagada said 13 Japanese nationals with their two Filipino teachers were rescued by volunteers at 5:30 p.m. Sunday. The five local tourists and eight local guides were rescued at 9:30 p.m. that same day.

Local tourist Rodolfo Bendola Jr. from Quezon City, was rescued at 11:40 p.m.  Sunday and told volunteers that his companion, Irene Gonzalez Manaois from Dagupan City, Pangasinan, was taken by rampaging currents that flooded the cave. Bendola was brought to the St. Theodore’s Hospital in Sagada where he was declared safe, but a search for Manaois turned up empty until posting time.

Sagada Mayor Eduardo Latawan Jr. led local officials and volunteers in the rescue of those trapped inside the Sumaging cave, a favorite of tourists.

It was learned that strong rains caused the flashflood inside the cave after 11 a.m. Sunday. Robert Pangod, secretary of Mayor Latawan, said in a phone interview that those who went to the cave earlier came out safe at 11a.m..

Rescuers used ropes to reach the rest of the trapped victims, who were spotted through the petromax light they were using, Pangod said.

Volunteers were forced to end the search for Manaois at 2 a.m. Monday as waters continued to rise and the current became stronger. They resumed work at 7 a.m., added Pangod.

The PNP and the Municipal Rescue Team identified the Japanese tourists, all residing in Pampanga, as Atsushi  Ito, Yoshitaka Onoe, Saika Furukawa, Sakuda Hikaru, Mutsimi Sato, Koichi Sato, Takuto Horita, Ayumi Shimamura, Keitaro Yuda, Sayori Shirai, Yuka Morita, Yuka Nakamura, and Naomi Yusakawa.

Their teachers from Pampanga were identified as Nemoza Magsino and Jahnina Pamintuan.

Aside from Bendola, the local tourists are Mark Joseph Delos Santos of Pasig City, Jeffrey Peejay Gunday Alex of Makati, Oliver Dela Cruz Alejandro of Taguig City, May Turisa Palatao of Manila, Vilma Forayong Pusao and Aiza Saliwan Lifano both of Natonin, Mountain Province.

The tourist guides from Sagada are Andrew Cauten Bagni, J-Ford Pangko Calpi, Jet Balonglong Kollin, Laurel Padalla Royo, James Boyoten Luken, Patrick Rigonan and Lexbur Balonglong Kollin.