My heart is heavier now than it was earlier today when I started to piece together what had happenned to Amiel Alcantara, the Ateneo fourth grader who was hit by a CRV at the Ateneo de Manila grade school parking lot yesterday afternoon.
My husband and I have just returned from his wake and I am shocked, stunned and restless over the circumstances surrounding his death. The Alcantara's actually almost lost three children, and not just one.
Amiel, his 65-year old Yaya Tata (who has been with the family for 40 plus years), his 7 year old sister, and 13 year old brother Javi, together with the driver, were already so close to their car when the CRV driven by Teresa Torres, careened from behind and hit Amiel. Yaya Tata was able to push the youngest one and the elder boy out of the way but was too far to get to Amiel. Yaya Tata had herself suffered injuries and fractures and is set to have surgery next week. The most heart-wrenching thing about the whole thing is that it was the Alcantara's driver and 13 year old Javi who had to extricate Amiel from beneath the van. The impact was so strong that three other vehicles were damaged in the process before the vehicle finally came to a stop. How does a 13 year old young boy cope with the image of seeing his younger brother that way?
It was the driver who took Amiel to the New Era hospital and they were en route to the hospital in another Ateneo parent's car when Amiel died in his arms. Amiel's father, Pepe Alcantara, former chair of the UP Student Council in the 1980s, and his mother, Niann, were no longer able to see their youngest son alive. It is a tragedy of such great proportions.
The CRV that careened through the parking lot was around 25 meters away from where the kids were standing. Apparently, for some reasons that remain yet unclear, the driver had stepped heavily on the accelerator because a screeching sound, akin to those that you hear at drag races, was heard by several witnesses before the car sped and hit Amiel.
The saddest part is that according to reports, Mrs. Torres, herself a mother of a fourth grader at the Ateneo, has not offered any apologies to the Alcantara family and claims that it was all an accident. I really don't know if being unapologetic is a legal strategy or a symptom of post-traumatic stress. Charges of homicide, reckless imprudence and several counts of perjury have supposedly been filed against Mrs. Torres who remains in custody at a Quezon City police station early today.
The Alcantara's come from a large, closely-knit family and I was comforted to see many family members and friends at the wake this evening. I was seated beside Amiel's youngest sister who though smiling, appeared a bit dazed. "Sana that car was not there...it just kept moving and moving and would not stop," she told us when we asked her about the accident. My heart goes out to these children, I'm almost certain that this is a loss that they will carry with them forever. I only find comfort in knowing that Amiel is now happy and safe and whole with Jesus. I pray that justice will be served because Teresa Torres is a mother with a family too. May her family find courage and enlightenment. May God hold Amiel's siblings and family members close, protect them, and may they all be filled with the Holy Spirit so that they may be guided at this very difficult time.
Thursday, February 26, 2009
Update on Losing Amiel Alcantara
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16 comments:
i am saddened as well.
I am sure all Atene parents fear the loss in such a fashion and fell the anguish that Amiel's family is going through. We all know how it feels to be away from your son for the better part of the fay and to come home to them and be reunited is such a wonderful feeling. That's how I feel whenever I am goe on a business trip. I come home eager to see my children's smiling faces and loving arms. It truly is a such tregedy to lose sommeone so young
The vehicle of Teresa Torres was a Hi-ace van, and she hit the CRV in front of her causing extensive damage. Our driver saw it all as he was waiting for my son too that fateful afternoon. I shudder to think that I would've witnessed that atrocity since I am usually the one who fetches my 4th grade son from Ateneo everyday, only I had an appointment at my daughter's school that same afternoon. My heart just bleeds for the Alcantaras as this is truly a devastating loss for them. I was at the wake yesterday and what's truly heartbreaking is that Amiel was not feeling well that day, he was in the infirmary earlier in the afternoon with fever, as related by his mom. To think that he was already on his way home this tragedy had to happen...God surely works in mysterious ways.
Regarding Teresa Torres, one of Amiel's relatives related that she was "remorseful and sya pa ang galit". I truly did'nt want to judge this person when I learned about the accident but upon hearing this feedback, I can't help but think how arrogant and unrepentant can this person be, and not just own up to her very grave negligence. It's just sad to realise that we have a co-parent with such a character...I hope she realises her attitude will never erase the fact that a boy lost his life and it was her fault.
As a mother with two young children, I found myself crying as I prayed that night I learned about this unfortunate incident. I cried for Amiel, his family, and the family of the person behind the wheel. I cannot even begin to imagine the pain of Amiel's parents. I watched my children sleep, thinking it could've been them. I wanted to talk about it with my Gr. 3 son but details about the accident were sketchy at first. Thank you for the update. Your post will help me as I try to guide my son during these times.
We all know that the word accident comes with unfortunate and unintentional. With remorse comes penitence or deep regret.
Yesterday's approach was way better. Especially when you said, "That mother could have been me. That boy, God forbid, could have been my son."
One mother lost his son. Soon, a boy will/may lose his mother. It's a lose-lose situation.
My wife and I are absolute strangers to all parties concerned but our hearts bleed for the parents of Amiel.
At the same time, I am wondering how an urvan could have accelerated to such a speed.
Ling, this is really, truly so sad.
Andrew, every day is a gift and this is why we must cherish our children and our loved ones.
X-Rep, I really don't know Teresa Torres but maybe, just maybe that she was still in shock when she mouthed those words. She has given an apology but yes, it still does not change the fact that the Alcanatara's lost a beloved son.
Monster, one can never really fathom the loss of a child until you have experienced it yourself. It's a lose-lose situation, yes, but in one family, a son is dead, forever gone.
Paul, that is really the question in everyone's mind. May the truth prevail soon. May all parties find their healing and discernment.
JUSTICE FOR AMIEL!
We, the family of Amiel Alcantara cry out for Justice! Hakahaka said that the woman, Theresa Torres, has placed her house in Mindanao Avenue up for sale in the market. Kurokuro has confirmed this and added that she is speeding up her application for imigration to Canada. And the young boy who goes by the familyname "Laki" (?) has been withdrawn from schooling at ateneo, also a fourth grader. What does this mean? Simple, she is now fleeing and escaping the results of her insensible act. Amiel Alcantara cries out for justice from his grave. Let us give sensation to this woman and expose her locations always so we all know that one day, justice may be served. I am Dr. Martin Moreno, uncle of Amiel Alcantara.
doc mart, can you please email me at cathybabao@gmail.com thanks!
well, even if she succeeds in "escaping" .. she'd still be a prisoner of her conscience forever..which i hope she has.
yes, we pray that justice will be served but you are right in saying that the mind is an even greater prison.
My sympathies and prayers to all the families involved. I am not placing blame on anyone because two families here have been ruined. But this should have been a wake-up call for Ateneo. There should be crossing guards, crosswalks, bumps and stop signs. That's a very expensive school to go to and am sure they have budget for those. Children's safety first!
Finally, Yaya Tata speaks out. She recalls, "I was in a cubicle of the ateneo grade school infirmary when they brought a hysterical lady in side the adjacent cubile." She had a loud voice like wanting to be heard by all. Looking back, she was the killer driver Mrs. Ma. Theresa Torres, and she (Torres) exclaimed, "KATULONG LANG ANG TINAMAAN KO, KATULONG LANG YUN."
Arraignment proceedings this morning, 12 March 2009
I post this as an observer during the arraignment proceedings held this morning, 12 March 2009 at Branch 107 at the QC City Hall of Justice. I am not a lawyer and do not pose as one. I am a mere observant and commentator.
The scheduled arraignement began at 8:36am. The judge entered and all were asked to rise. Two other cases where first heard then finally our much awaited case was on by 9am. As in any other case, the complainant and defense are asked to identify themselves. I am surprized how the accussed Mrs. Torres deliberately softens her voice and tries to misleads the court with regards to her name. The case was filed against her on March 25, 2008 and she then gave her name as Ma. Theresa Songco Torres. When asked by the judge questions (just re-phrasing the previous identity question) she says something else. She says she is Ma. Theresa Torres Laki. The judge, perplexed by her soft voice asks her counsel to produce proofs of her identity such as passport and marriage certificates. She claimed to be a single parent yet she said she has a marriage certificate. Live in? A mistress perphaps of a known figure? Obviously, there was no Mr. Laki around to accompany her. There where two men sitting behind her, maybe a brother and/or father. I have information on Mr. Laki but I reserve this for my future postings. I have to make sure first.
As a non-legal observer of the proceedings, I asked myself. How can she not answer the judge outright by stating her full name? My prep nephew and niece can answer that quesiton in seconds, and they both have very looooong full names? What are you hiding from us Theresa? Why do you deliberately mislead the questioning right from the begining on the night after the killing of my nephew? Cant you face your accussers?
I would like to comment on the defenses’ motion to “quash” certain issues of the case. But I am not an authority on this. Just this for now. You may view my next videos with the arraignment on my youtube.com account. Search for mmnMoreno.
I am a mother of three. I feel the pain. I may not be know to Amiel or to his family but i feel i have lost someone who is so special, someone who is so dear to me... I will always pray for Amiel and his family.
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