Grateful Chilean envoy to Manila credits high tech and faith

(Updated 11:21 p.m.) The Chilean envoy to the Philippines on Thursday expressed gratitude to Filipinos who showed concern for the 33 miners who were rescued after being trapped underground in Chile for more than two months. Chilean Ambassador Roberto Mayorga said he is very thankful for the “solidarity" Filipinos showed throughout the 22 and a half-hour operation to rescue the miners. “Thank you to all Filipinos. Thanks for all the prayers and support. We would also like to thank Philippine authorities, private entities, universities and the media who expressed their solidarity and strong support to Chile and its miners," he told reporters in a press briefing on Thursday.
The 33 miners were all rescued alive and well on Thursday morning (Manila time) after 69 days of being trapped 2,000 feet in the underground mazes of the San Jose Mine in Chile. (See: Last of Chilean miners is raised safely to surface) Much of the world, including Filipino viewers, witnessed the miners’ rescue through live TV coverage. The rescuers used a capsule called Phoenix to facilitate the miners’ ascent to safety. (See: Wistful Filipinos witness flawless rescue in Chile) “The success has been achieved through a combination of high technology and faith. We were able to save the miners because God was in our midst," Mayorga said. After the press briefing, the ambassador led other jubilant Chileans working in the embassy to a victory toast and to chanting “Viva Chile!" Philippine Ambassador to Chile Consuelo Puyat, for her part, said that the concern shown by Filipinos for the trapped Chilean miners proved how “strong" our ties are to the South American nation. “What I felt during the incident was something very personal... I was praying with the rest of the world for the miners’ safety... I think this shows how strong the ties are between the two countries," she said. Proud to be Chilean Chilean nationals in the Philippines, meanwhile, expressed pride for the miners’ successful rescue. Sister Carmen Villalon, a Chilean nun who lives here in the Philippines, said she was praying for the safety of the miners throughout the rescue operation. “I was amazed by the rescue. It showed the courage of my fellow Chileans. I feel very happy to be a Chilean right now. I feel very proud," she told GMANews.TV in an interview after the press briefing. Villalon said that the successful rescue made the world aware of the faith and unity of her countrymen. “The rescue changed the minds of the Chileans. They talked more about God since this situation. It also made the world aware of our country," she said. Loraine Casey, another Chilean national living in the Philippines, meanwhile expressed pride of the example her country has set to the world. “It can now serve as an example that everybody can be saved. Technology is available, and tragedies do not have to occur," she said in a separate interview. The Chilean embassy also treated the press to Chilean bread and wine after the briefing to celebrate the safety of the miners.—JV/HS, GMANews.TV