Victims’ kin still in shock

MANILA, Philippines - One moment they were heading home from a day’s work. The next moment, life was over for three workers of appliance retailer Abenson.

A large chunk of the wall of Two Serendra condominium, blown away by a powerful explosion, hurtled down to McKinley Parkway at Bonifacio Global City in Taguig, crushing the Abenson delivery van that was moving slowly in last Friday night traffic.

All three workers died instantly in the crumpled vehicle, which smashed into a passing Starex van.

Driver Sallymar Natividad, 41, left behind his wife Lilibeth, 35, who is seven months pregnant with their third child. Minutes before the accident, she received a text message from her husband, asking if the family had finished dinner.

The shock has not yet worn off for Lilibeth, who said Sallymar worked hard to give his family a better future.

Relatives of Marlon Bandiola, 29, have similar words about him. Bandiola was once awarded by Abenson as best assembler. He was preparing to celebrate the fourth birthday of his only child Marc Nathan on June 10.

His widow Norberta, 32, said between sobs at their relatives’ home in Barangay Maligrosa, Carmona, Cavite yesterday that they were saving up to build their own home in General Mariano Alvarez, Cavite.

The third fatality is Jeffrey Umali, 32, of Sta. Mesa, Manila.

Lilibeth said Abenson has promised to provide assistance for her husband’s burial.

“We still don’t know what to do,” Lilibeth told The STAR at their home in Bulacan.

Their daughter Ivy, 14, is enrolled at the San Jose del Monte National Trade School, while Hope, 10, is entering sixth grade at the Bagong Buhay Elementary School.

Sallymar, who went to Bulacan once a week, went home on Monday night last week. The next day, his day off, was the last time he was with his family.

 â€œEvery night, he always sent a text message to remind us that he was thinking of us,” Lilibeth said.

Norberta, for her part, recalled Marlon rejoicing last Wednesday upon learning that their only son had passed the entrance examination for day care school.

He told Norberta to prepare noodles as a treat for the school. Informed that there was no money for the noodles, Marlon told Norberta to wait for him to come home.

Like Sallymar, Marlon went home to his family only once a week on his day off, Thursday. The rest of the week he stayed in Pasig.

All relatives of the three fatalities now worry about their future.