Buendia bus blast fatalities: Victims of a senseless tragedy

The families of the five fatalities in Tuesday’s bus explosion in Makati recounted the heart-rending stories of their loved ones in a report aired Wednesday evening by GMA News’ 24 Oras. Imelda De Ocampo, whose 22-year-old daughter Irish Teñola was killed in the blast, said her daughter worked as a call center agent and was the family’s breadwinner.
Irish would usually take a breather in her office after her shift. On the day of the blast, however, she left her office early to run errands for her mother. Imelda said her daughter also took care of sending her siblings to school. Venting her rage on the perpetrators, she said, “Sinira n’yo ang pangarap ng anak ko [You put an end to my daughter’s dreams]." Gerry Marino also mourned the death of his father, Salustiano, with whom he was even exchanging text messages two hours before the bus explosion. Gerry made a phone call to his father at past two in the afternoon – not expecting his call would be answered by hospital staff. “Patay na daw si Papa [They told me Papa was dead]," Gerry recounted how he received the news. “Hindi talaga ako maniwala. Kasi ang iniisip ko, nagbibiyahe ang Papa ko [I really couldn’t believe it because all the while, I thought he was on the road]."
The families of two victims, Johanson “Jay" Reyes and his girlfriend Kristel Ausena, meanwhile demanded justice for the couple’s tragic end. Jay and Kristel were planning to apply for a job together yesterday, after Jay finished course in culinary arts. Jay was also supposed to send his youngest sibling to school. “Lahat ng pangarap niya, nawala [All his dreams faded away]," his mother Aile said. “Hindi ko matanggap na wala ka na [I cannot accept that you are gone]," Kristel’s father Wilson said. “I love you, anak [child]." Meanwhile, relatives of the fatalities and other injured victims asked government to ensure justice for their loved ones. President Benigno Aquino III had visited the victims at the St. Luke's and Ospital ng Makati Tuesday night and assured them government will shoulder their hospital expenses and run after the perpetrators. (See: Bus blast death toll now 5; victims' kin cry out for justice)—Paterno Esmaquel II/JV, GMANews.TV