The 17 Filipino crew members of Taiwan-flagged fishing vessel Winfar arrive in high spirits at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 1, Sunday afternoon. (Photo by CANDICE REYES)

Filipino seafarers freed by Somali pirates after almost 10 months in captivity arrived home Sunday, reuniting with family and friends who waited anxiously at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 1 in Pasay City.

The group planed in at 4:45 p.m. aboard Cathay Pacific flight CX-919 from Hong Kong, officials of the Overseas Workers' Welfare Administration (OWWA) said.

The OWWA list identified the returning seamen as Arnel R. Delos Santos; Ruben T. Argallon; Acosta Sherwin Nacis; Andaya Roldan; Lagua Marlon Valencia; Jordan Mamaril; Calzada Pedro Tunac; Ambabag Virgilio Arreola; Dulay Mario; Gava Honathan Batalia; Gava Reynate Suguitan; Parinas Jayson Gava; Baltazar Allan Prexy Gaayon; Aguilar Sonny Villanueva; Ifurung Felix Bryan; Orbello Johnwel Aquino; and Cecilio Labugen.

Their boat, Taiwan-flagged Winfar 161, had a crew of 30 when pirates boarded it on April 4, 2009, off the coast of the Seychelles Islands.

The Winfar was released last February 11, making their 10-month ordeal in the hands of Somalian pirates the longest pirate abduction on record.

Argallon, 38, from Vigan, Ilocos Sur, recalled that the most difficult period of their captivity was the first three months when they tried repeatedly to fight off the pirates only for the armed Somali pirates to regain control of the vessel.

Argallon said all crew members were made to steadily lie down by around 10 pirates armed with AK-47 automatic rifles.

“For hours we would be lying down. If we want to go to the comfort room, we have to raise our hand to ask for permission. We hardly ate. We were really terrified," he said.

Things, however, changed when the pirates were already confident that the the ship's crew would not put up a fight and continue to obey their orders.

"When they saw that we were obeying their orders, they began to treat us well, even sharing jokes with us," Argallon said speaking in Ilocano.

Terrified with their 10-month ordeal, Jordan and Labugen said for now, they would not want to sail seas abroad again.