Please help us pray

My childhood friend's partner is included in the list of missing crew of MV Hofeng when it sank wednesday morning. Please help us pray that he will be rescued soon. Our spirits are down due to unconfirmed stories that he was slightly drunk the night before and the hang over could have slowed down his reflexes. We are still hoping for the best but it won't hurt if an extra soul prays for his safety.

MANILA, Jan 17 (Reuters) - Philippine authorities are searching for 11 sailors missing after their cargo ship sank in stormy weather off the northern coast, an official said on Thursday.

A spokesman for the coast guard said eight people had been plucked from choppy waters off Batanes island near Taiwan a few hours after the ship, which was carrying steel from China, sank on Wednesday.

"I spoke with the pilots helping our search and rescue ships in the area and they were having difficulty because of near zero visibility due to bad weather," Lieutenant Armand Balilo said, adding they were not giving up the search.

The ship, m/v Hofeng No. 7, was on its way to Malaysia and carrying 19 crew from the Philippines when huge waves, strong winds and rain caused it to list and sink.

"The rescued seamen were brought to Taiwan for medical treatment," Balilo said. (Reporting by Manny Mogato, editing by Carmel Crimmins)