CEBU CITY, Cebu (PIA) – Families of at least five Cebuano student nurses still missing in the quake ruins in the city of Christchurch, New Zealand (NZ) continue to pray for their safety but are bracing for the worst as NZ police authorities said chances that survivors could be found a week after the tragedy are “very slim.”

A mass which was offered earlier this week at the Sacred Heart Church in Cebu City for Filipino victims of the quake disaster was attended by some of the families of the Cebuano victims.

“Since there are no definite news yet, we have to hold on to hope,” the officiating priest in said mass told media during an interview over local ABS-CBN News.

Dr. Ethel Uy, aunt of one of the victims, Rhea Mae Sumalpong, was tearful as she related that her family was planning to go to NZ to check with DNA testing as seven bodies of the 11 Filipinos have reportedly been already retrieved from the rubble.

“We cannot do anything anymore as the NZ police already said chances are slim for any survivors at this time,” Uy said, in a resigned tone. “We are just bracing for the bad news ahead. In case there are really no survivors, then all we request is that the body of our kin be brought back home.”

Still, families of the Cebuano victims appealed to NZ police authorities to continue with search and rescue operations as they cling to hope their loved ones have, somehow, survived the earthquake.

According to a local news report, 148 bodies have been retrieved from the quake ruins as of last count, even as 200 are still missing.

Only the family of Rhea Mae Sumalpong’s family was able to submit her medical and dental records per requirement of the NZ police authorities as part of identification procedures. Families have also been informed that two members of the immediate family can fly to NZ to check the status and identify of the bodies of Filipino victims that were retrieved at their own cost.

As this developed, the families of the victims asked the Philippine Government for assistance so that they could go to NZ and identify their loved one but the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) has yet to respond to such request.

Bill Santillan, brother-in-law of one of the victims, John Kristoffer Chua, personally visited the office of Cebu Gov. Gwen Garcia to seek for assistance. The governor however, was in Manila.

Arnulfo Medalle, father of victim Ezra Mae Medalle, appealed to Pres. Benigno S. Aquino III for help because until now, they have yet to receive the latest updates from the DFA.

“We just want the body to be brought home,” according to Medalle.