Blogger missing

FAMILY and friends of Philip Dome Batari are praying for a miracle.
Batari, who posted pictures on Facebook of huge waves pounding the mv Rabaul Queen before it sank last Thursday with more than 350 people on board, is among those passengers still unaccounted for.
Hope is fading for the more than 100 people still missing after 246 were rescued.
Six bodies have been recovered.
Batari, 34, from Gavuvu village, Hoskins, in West New Britain, is the eldest of Justice Ellenas Batari and wife Dorothy’s three children.
He is married and has two children, aged nine and three.
The self-employed mechanic said it was the worst day of his life as he posted photographs of huge waves pounding the side and back of the ship on his
Facebook page last Wednesday, hours before the ship sank.
The pictures were published in The National and circulated around the world last Friday, the day after the ship went down in deep waters off the Finschhafen coast.
Brother Redge Eb yesterday posted on Batari’s Facebook wall: “Just contemplating what you were goin through at this time last week. I can only imagine. Whish i was with you….why? Leva please i can still feel you…don’t give up na come na me lukim pes blo you.”
Sister Nance Maisu Gerson said: “Phil just post on FB where you are now ya..Our eyes are sore, heart ache, your two babies are waiting for daddy to come home now, dad, Redge and Riss are waiting for you in Lae bata, just surprise them with your smile and God knows the brightness you will put on dad, redge and rissa’s face. God give him strengh to press on till his safely home.”
In another post, Gerson said: “Tru2 bata, I was chatting with you before you boardered the ferry. I regret not chatting with you the same nite and even by this time last thursday. Bata laikm yu and can’t wait for
you to poke/crack up something or tag a crazy photo of you on FB.. . . .”
Kevin Marai, one of the 122 friends Batari had listed, said:  “Bata Philip, Know u lost yu phone at sea, da pixs u post to keep us posted of your walkabauts at sea. Our FB mates group is waiting for yu to post when on land..to share with me first ya exclusive story. Praying for yu to press on brats…and ya family too!”
Batari had recently moved back to his home province from Wewak where his wife, Nancy, was teaching at Yarapos Girls Secondary High School.
He was travelling from Kimbe to Lae on the mv Rabaul Queen to pick up his tools and family belongings which he was to take back to Malalia High School in Kimbe where wife Nancy is currently posted.
The family is not saying much but is hoping and trusting in God that they will receive some good news soon.
They thank all those who have been calling and texting in prayer support and words of encouragement while the family anxiously awaits the outcome of the search.
Batari is now considered a hero by many in Lae and around the country for bringing to Papua New Guineans the reality of the danger the passengers were facing during the trip.