DAVAO CITY — Vice President Sara Duterte on Saturday graced the launching of Jose A. Lim III's book, “Rainbows of the Deep,” which is based on his 2018 experience of being lost at sea during a scuba diving expedition.

“As a successful businessman, he studies calculated risks on a yearly, or maybe daily basis. His scuba diving incident is therefore a great example of effective risk management,” Duterte said during the event at the Dusit Thani Hotel here.

“Owing to his experience in risk management, and possibly a healthy mix of good karma, good fortune, and luck, pagiging masamang damo,” Duterte said in jest.

Duterte said “many sighed a breath of relief” when he was found off the waters of Sta. Cruz, Davao del Sur the morning after.

Lim is the president of Toyota Davao. He was reported missing after going scuba diving at a fish sanctuary in the Island Garden City of Samal on October 11, 2018. He was found off the waters of Sta. Cruz town the morning after, still carrying the Spanish Mackerel fish that he caught while diving.

Duterte commended Lim for “having the vision and making the effort to give what she think is genuinely enjoyable.”

“This book is a testament to a grand life that has been lived well, with the author plunging into life's deep waters, promises, and plenty,” Duterte said.

“Enabling us to glean, listen, and learn from a distinctive voice, the power of treading one's own path, and relentlessly pursuing our creative pursuits, I truly hope that this book will be widely available and read,” she added.

Lim said the book was written to personally thank everyone who has helped him during the time when “everyone thought he was dead.”

“I was inspired to write a story to thank everyone in a very special way and to tell them how stupid I was to be diving without a flashlight at 4:30 in the afternoon, and for me to be able to repay them at once to say thank you,” Lim said.

Among those present during the event were President and Vice chairman of San Miguel Corporation Ramon S. Ang, Davao Occidental Representative Claude Bautista, members of Toyota Philippines, and Lim’s friends and family.

OVP MEDIA