La Salle students die in mishap after relief distribution

BATANGAS, Philippines  – Two De La Salle Lipa students died Tuesday morning after figuring in a car accident in Batangas on their way home from distributing relief goods to evacuees affected by the eruption of Taal Volcano.

Rio John Abel and Maximino Alcantara III were hit by a trailer truck that was about to enter a feedmill in Barangay Banay-banay 1st along the national highway at around 1:30 a.m., according to the Batangas police.

Darwin Lajara, who was with the two students, was injured and rushed to a nearby hospital.

De La Salle Lipa president Dante Amisola thanked the students for their service to fellow Batangueños in need.

“Let us not let Rio’s life and his example of self-sacrifice be in vain. Let us honor him instead by extolling the values he lived and died for – especially the paradox and truism that there are things and others in this world that are worth more than and beyond our selves and our own interests and therefore, worth risking our life and even dying for,” Amisola said in a Facebook post.

“I would like to personally take this opportunity to appeal, in these very trying times, to our dear parents, students, faculty and personnel to bear with understanding the very dire situation many of our kababayans are currently bearing and to seize this crisis and convert it into a valuable ‘teaching-moment’ for ourselves and our children,” Amisola said.

Starting Jan. 17, De La Salle Lipa has committed to adopt an evacuation center and help in feeding 400 evacuees at a nearby public school with three hot meals daily until the crisis ends.

They are also preparing to welcome additional evacuees within the school grounds. –