Home > Amiel Alcantara > conversation with Pepe Alcantara, Amiel’s dad

conversation with Pepe Alcantara, Amiel’s dad

February 27, 2009 Leave a comment Go to comments

i went to the wake today to talk to pepe alcantara, amiel’s dad. here is
how our conversation went:

i introduced myself and told him that among other things, i had converted this blog to dedicating it to Amiel and what happened to him at the ateneo campus.

his 3rd sentence was something like – the school need to improve the safety of our children while in school specially at the parking lot, as it relates to traffic. he said Amiel’s death should not be in vain and should not be repeated in school.

i was floored by what he said. it is one of the things that i had taken up as a cause from the beginning of this incident with amiel.

pepe said he wished all ateneo parents would be united and pressure the school to actually do changes and improvements on safety of kids and traffic/vehicles. he felt this issue has been there for a long time andit has only come to a head after Amiel’s tragic death.

i told him that through the internet, i have been urging parents to write or email school officials on the matter and he agreed that is a very good thing to do.

i hope knowing how amiel’s dad feel about the safety of school children at the ateneo will inspire those reading this blog to send a letter or write an email to ateneo school authorities to express their feelings about the incident and to urge them to improve the security and safety of school children at the ateneo campus.

please send an email or a letter to the following ateneo school authorities:

Fr. Norberto Bautista, SJ
Headmaster

Ateneo de Manila Grade School

Katipunan Avenue, Loyola Heights

Quezon City, Metro Manila 1108

 Fr. Ben Nebres, SJ
President
Ateneo de Manila University
Katipunan Avenue, Loyola Heights
Quezon City, Metro Manila 1108

or send your email to this email address: president@admu.edu.ph

i think it’s important that all members of the ateneo community make their feelings and their desire for improvements on security and safety for school children be known to the ateneo school officials. i would also urge non ateneo community members to do the same. i think everyone’s efforts will count.

what happened to amiel should never happen again at the ateneo.

Categories: Amiel Alcantara Tags: , ,
  1. ateneo alum
    February 27, 2009 at 5:22 am
    Reply

    That is all well and good. But what are YOU as parents willing to do to further safety?

    It’s not Ateneo’s problem that THERE ARE TOO MANY CARS going to “pick up” children. Usually one boy ber car. The average is probably 2, maybe 3 boys per car at THE MOST. Given the number of boys in the grade school, how many cars do you think that comes out to?

    Are parents willing to have their kids ride a school bus? (FX type school buses will still be an improvement).

    You know what. Let me guess. The vast majority of parents will scream for change, scream for improvements, but when it comes to having to give up a little something in return, they will balk. They will say no.

    Remember all the complaints and whining when they closed the u-turn slot in front of Gate 2? Just take a little something away from these parents in the name of the common good and all of a sudden the common good isn’t as common or good.

    Here’s a suggestion. Close off most of Ateneo to be pedestrian only. Have a pick up and drop off point which will be heavily policed (IE, anyone not following the rules will be fined. HEAVILY).

    Think parents will agree to that? Maybe even just some of it?

  2. Mylene Lising
    February 27, 2009 at 9:51 am
    Reply

    You can have all safety measures in place, but for as long as some stupid people insist on driving on texting, our children –or all of us for that matter–will continue to be in peril.

    There have to be stricter laws about using mobile phones when in the driver’s seat. I wonder if there is any legislation on this.

    Using a mobile phone while behind the wheel of a car whose motor is running SHOULD BE CONSIDERED A CRIMINAL ACT.

  3. Amylou Jonsay
    March 1, 2009 at 4:38 pm
    Reply

    but while I agree that Ateneo should consider opening a bigger and multi-level space(like the one they have at LGH) is the best thing that’s left to do, the possibility of it happening soon is still a puzzle for all atenean parents.

    with the untimely demise of amiel that shocked the entire community, i cannot really put all the blame to the school’s security since a major problem of theirs are having to deal with vip securities, bad mouth drivers and ill considerate parents whenever they are reminded that engine should not be left running while parked specially in the school’s driveway turned parking area.

    pushing through and imposing stricter penalties is the only thing left to be done for now. having them to cough out a higher amount than the usual and not giving in to the appeals if caught is i think the only way we can do best while waiting for the school to give us a bigger parking area.

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