Thus pleaded the family of Adela Catalon and her father, Mauricio, who both died of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS), referring to other family members still in isolation at the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine (RITM) in Muntinlupa City.
Jean Catalon, Mauricio’s daughter-in-law, told The STAR in a phone interview that the old man’s ashes would be buried beside Adela’s as soon as his wife, Paulina, 71, and other family members are released from the RITM.
Mauricio, 73 (not 74 as earlier reported), died of SARS but was earlier diagnosed as cancer-stricken. Adela died last April 14 or barely nine days after she arrived from Toronto, Canada where she was a nursing assistant.
Adela went home to look for an oncologist for her ailing father, not knowing she was a carrier of the SARS virus.
According to Jean, Adela’s sister, Anita, who is in Canada, would not come home to attend her father’s burial but requested that they wait for her mother’s return before proceeding with the interment.
Besides Paulina, those still in isolation at the RITM are Jean’s husband, Ricardo, barangay captain of Vacante here; the eldest of their eight children and a couple who took care of their two-year-old child; and a brother-in-law who had served as Adela’s driver.
"We always pray that we could be together (again) soon," Jean said.
During President Arroyo’s visit here last May 2 to officially declare Barangay Vacante as SARS-free, Department of Health officials reportedly told the Catalons that their relatives at the RITM might be home in 10 days.
Mauricio’s ashes were placed in an empty biscuit can, sealed and wrapped in a pink cloth and three layers of masking tape and finally, a white cloth.
Jean said they started praying the novena last Wednesday night. Mauricio’s ashes arrived past noon that day.
"At least, it’s better now because we still have time to hold a wake unlike in Adela’s case where her remains were brought immediately to the cemetery," she said.