A Philippine passenger ferry having onboard around 700 passengers and 121 crew members capsized on Sunday, June 22, 2008 because of a typhoon, setting off an extensive search for survivors. The ferry was on its way to Cebu from Manila and the vessel's owner Sulpicio Lines informed they had lost contact with the ferry at around 12.30 p.m. EDT on Saturday. Most of the 626 passengers and 121 crew are said to be missing.

The coast guard eventually reached the point where MV Princess of Stars went down three km or two miles from the Sibuyan Island in the centre of the archipelago. The denizens of a coastal village reportedly stated that just the bow of the ferry was visible to them above the waves. Vice Admiral Wilfredo Tamayo, the head of the coastguard remarked that a ship had set out for search but had not reported yet. On the other hand, Nanette Tansingco, the local mayor, announced over radio that three survivors were found in a nearby village.