theresa torres pleads “not guilty” in ateneo student amiel alcantara death court case

theresa torres

theresa torres, the mother/driver suspect charged in the death of grade 4 student amiel alcantara at the ateneo grade school pleaded not guilty in court on criminal charges lodged by the alcantara family. amiel was killed at the ateneo grade school parking lot when the van driven by torres pinned the grade 4 boy to another car and crushed him to death. amiel’s nanny and sister were also hurt in the same car accident.

the QC Court Branch 106 judge also said that in accordance with court rules, the parties are mandated to elevate the case to mediation. it was the first time we heard of this process.

the idea of going through mediation according to documents we have read is to find a way to unclog the courts of cases. while it might achieve that in some way, we think more than anything, this is just an additional process to the judicial proceeding which to begin with already takes a long time. what this does is it adds one more process to an already very long process.

amiel alcantara was killed in february 24, 2009 and the arraignment of the case was done just a few days ago, after almost one year and a half in the courts. the case has just been started after 18 months. the mediation will add more months to it.

(read about mediation at the courts here: http://www.pmc.org.ph/about-the-philippine-mediation-center.htm)

the parties in court cases are forced to go through it. we think that should be changed where the parties may simply say whether they want to go through it or by-pass it all together to go straight to trial. the courts are clogged with cases not because of a lack of mediation, it is the slow process that judges allow to occur in its proceedings.

the mediation process helps the court in unclogging it but it does not help the parties involved in the case. all it does is it prolongs the court case further.

the mediation process only adds to an already prolonged process and adds misery and pain to the victims and families of the victims.  this additional process does not really decongest the courts, all it does is give the cases one more detour. it postpones or delays the progress of the case, it does not remove them.

the mediation process for the amiel alcantara death case is scheduled for november.

Suspect in Ateneo student’s death pleads not guilty

MANILA, Philippines – A woman accused of running over a Grade 4 student at the Ateneo de Manila University on Katipunan Avenue, Quezon City last year pled not guilty to criminal charges before a local court Thursday.

Maria Theresa Torres, the woman who ran over and killed 10-year-old student Amiel Alcantara last year, was arraigned at the Quezon City Regional Trial Court branch 106.

warrant of arrest for theresa torres, woman involved in amiel alcantara death

amiel alcantara – driver in death faces car theft charges

Driver in Ateneo stude’s death case faces car theft rap

By Julie M. Aurelio
Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 21:57:00 01/28/2010

MANILA, Philippines–The woman accused of killing a 10-year-old Ateneo Grade School student last year has been charged with another offense.

A balikbayan recently filed an affidavit with the Quezon City Prosecutor’s Office in which she accused Ma. Theresa Songco Torres of stealing her van—the one the latter was driving when she ran over Juan Carlo Miguel “Amiel” Alcantara.

Alcantara was crossing the school parking lot with his siblings and nanny when he was hit by the van on Feb. 24, 2009. His nanny was injured while the boy was declared dead on arrival at a nearby hospital due to head injuries.

Torres was later charged with reckless imprudence resulting in homicide and physical injures before a Quezon City court over Alcantara’s death. The case is still pending.

The new complaint against her was filed by Virginia Ibali, 54, an American citizen who lives in Pasuquin, Ilocos Norte, but also owns a house in San Francisco del Monte, Quezon City.

In a two-page complaint dated Jan. 19, Ibali said she was watching the news on March 2 last year in her house in Ilocos Sur when she learned that her van—a Toyota Hi-Ace van 2000 model with plate number CRW 705—was involved in an accident on the Ateneo campus in Quezon City on Feb. 24, 2009.

“The news report pinpointed to a certain Maria Theresa Songco Torres as the person who was in control of the said vehicle at the time of the incident,” she said.

According to Ibali, she last saw her van on Jan. 20 last year. She added that she kept the van at her house in Quezon City and that the only time she used it was whenever she was in Metro Manila.

She also said that since she bought the van in May 2002, she has not sold, transferred its ownership or mortgaged the vehicle.

“Neither did I authorize Maria Theresa Songco Torres to get or use the same,” she said, adding that she later learned from her neighbors that her van had been missing even before the day Alcantara was killed.

The van has been impounded by the Quezon City police since.

Ibali said that when she checked with the Land Transportation Office, she was told that the van was still registered in her name.

She added that she immediately reported the loss of her vehicle to the Ilocos Norte police while she filed a complaint with Quezon City policemen late last year.

“This affidavit is being executed as a basis for my complaint for the crime of carnapping against Maria Theresa Songco Torres for taking, carrying away and stealing my said vehicle without my consent,” Ibali said.

http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/inquirerheadlines/metro/view/20100128-249992/Driver-in-Ateneo-studes-death-case-faces-car-theft-rap

not enough parking spaces – the unsolved problem at AGS

now that the new traffic scheme is in place and we have had a few weeks experience with it, my conclusion is that the key problem at the parking lot is that there is not enough parking spaces for all the cars that go to ateneo to pick up AGS students. and that problem may have caused the tragic accident at the AGS parking lot.

not having enough parking spaces for all the cars is as plain as ateneo is

photo by solar

 blue. parking at the drop off point where amiel was killed and beside the irwin theater are no longer allowed – all those cars that used to be parked there are now double/quadruple parked at the football fields and at the road beside katipunan road. 

these parking spaces are always full. on top of the cars that are parked inside  the white lines, are vehicles parked perpendicular to these cars on both sides of the road.  it has  now become more difficult and slower to pass through those roads. the double/quadruple parking now goes all the way past  near the pedestrian overpass that crosses katipunan road.

amiel was killed as he crossed that road to reach their car which was parked at the drop-off area. the van that killed him was also parked there. the death was caused as small boys and moving vehicles were mixed in the same space. boys then were allowed to cross that drop off area in between cars that were parked or moving.

having not enough parking spaces based on comments from parents on this blog have been a perennial problem. some parents here have said CPRs have been bringing up that problem with ateneo school officials but obviously no action has been taken.

that problem still remain.  i hope the ateneo admin know that. what this new traffic scheme did was it just moved the problem of lack of parking spaces from the old location to a new spot – from the drop off areas and beside irwin theater to the parking areas at the football fields and the road beside katipunan.

in other words and i hope it does not happen – what this new traffic scheme did is it removed the danger of an accident at the drop off areas but transferred it to the football field and road near katipunan parking areas.

AGS students do walk to those areas to ride into their cars. in that same area we still see AGS students mixed in the same space as moving vehicles, only in this space it is more crowded which makes it even worst.

we think there is unfinished business at the AGS parking lot.

amiel alcantara’s marker at the AGS parking lot

these are pictures contributed by solar. we like to thank solar for his contribution to this blog.

we hope that this marker for amiel will remind us on a daily basis that we should honor this young boy’s life by staying safe in that parking lot. for pedestrians to follow all the rules all the time and for drivers to always take caution and drive slow in that area.

“impossible traffic” at the Ateneo Grade School

“impossible traffic” was how one ateneo dad describes the traffic situation at the AGS. we concur.

it has now taken much longer, at around 2 to 3 times longer to get in and out of the ateneo campus in the morning during drop-off and most specially in the afternoon at pick-up. what used to be getting in and out of the ateneo from 10 to 20 minutes, it is now anywhere from 15 to 30 minutes depending on the time. and that is just to get out and in to the AGS campus.

something is also wrong now at katipunan, on the approach to and getting out of the ateneo campus. traffic lines are now much longer, bumper to bumper and standstill traffic is more common. we wonder if the new traffic scheme implemented at the AGS is causing the traffic jam outside of ateneo. commuters and drivers along katipunan must now be fuming mad at ateneo.

pictures were taken on june 19, afternoon dismissal.

bumper to bumper traffic on road along katipunan. this reached up to the gate.

the other side is no different - bumper to bumper traffic on matheson road reaching all the college buildings to gate 3

double parking on both sides on parking beside the football fields across the blue eagle's gym

comments and suggestions posted here, to read, please click: https://wawam.wordpress.com/new-ags-traffic-scheme-comments-suggestions/

new AGS traffic scheme

an ateneo mom sent us these pictures of the new traffic scheme at the AGS. read parents’ feedback on the new traffic scheme here: https://wawam.wordpress.com/new-ags-traffic-scheme-comments-suggestions/

no parking beside lee irwin theater, turned into a curbside pick-up

on penny changes done on traffic scheme – “ateneo doesn’t care”

comment posted here: https://wawam.wordpress.com/2009/05/30/a-covered-parking-lot-for-teachers-at-the-ags-amiel-alcantaras-death-aftermath/

Despite our appeals to Ateneo to do something RADICAL, it looks like they have chosen to implement something MARGINAL.

I downloaded and studied the staggered dismissal schedules that Ateneo Grade School posted on their website. Loooks to me like there is a typographical error in the post, because my Grade 4 son commented that Grades 6 and 7 will spend less time in school than Grades 4 and 5. He commented that it was unfair to him that his brother in Grade 7 will get away with less hours in school.

Either he is right or the posted schedule is wrong. Taking a look at the schedule, it can only be correct if they removed the period either for Intramurals or Co-Curricular Activity from the schedule for Grades 6 and 7. Please validate.

Given that the success of the scheme is hinged on fetchers picking up the boys on a staggered basis, Ateneo has to ensure that fetchers know what the correct dismissal schedule is. Relaying unverified or inaccurate information will turn the entire Katipunan into a traffic nightware, don’t you think?

I am disaapointed in the solution being presented now. I had hoped for a better quality solution. It seems to me that the Multi-Stakeholder Committee created their solution in a vacuum, ignoring all the comments and suggestions of well-meaning parents.

Oh well . . . we won’t know anything until we give the scheme a try.

the traffic scheme that AGS ignored

we received an email that contains a traffic plan for the AGS. the email says this was developed by a group of professionals on design and safety –  architects and engineers and was submitted to the multi-stakeholder committee for consideration.

this traffic scheme is very different from the one that is being implemented now which means this was not at all adapted by the committee.

proposed traffic scheme developed by professionals on design and safety

 Design and Safety Philosophy :  Separate Pedestrian and Vehicular Traffic

 The safety of the Children is the paramount consideration to the design of any Traffic Scheme for schools. The best way to achieve this is to follow the tried and tested standard of separating pedestrian streams with that of vehicular flows to minimize if not to totally eradicate accidents of Ateneo’s students—the children of the main stakeholders of Ateneo de Manila University.

 Design Concepts

 1. Enlarged / Lengthened Waiting Areas. 
 The Waiting Areas (may be covered later) for fetching and dropping off students shall be lengthened by about 6 times the existing lengths. This shall discourage drivers from fetching and dropping off students in the middle of the road which may lead to another accident.

 2. Central Waiting Area.
Pedestrian and Vehicular Streams should not cross as much as possible, therefore, a core shall be created making use of the Blue Eagle Gym, Irwin Theater and the Inner Driveway serviced by 2 Road Loops. The Inner driveway shall be used as a Holding Area where students can play safely in a gated (fenced) environment while waiting for their fetchers.

 The Central Pedestrian / Waiting Area (where the current faculty parking is located) shall be connected to the Inner Driveway via the existing covered walkway from the Cafeteria or the existing open walkway (usually reserved for teachers only) through the Inner Driveway Courtyard where the statues of the Holy Family are located. From this Central Pedestrian / Waiting Area, students shall branch out to the Blue Eagle Gym, Irwin Theater and the Pedestrian /Waiting Area outside the Inner Driveway.

 Traffic Flow

1. Gate 1 Entry.
From Gate 1, drivers proceed to Road Loop 1 and may drop off or fetch students along the lengths of Pedestrian / Waiting Areas A & B. They then exit through the Collector Road toward Gate 2-B or park their vehicles in the Parking Lots.

2. Gates 2 and 3 Entries.
From Gate 2, drivers proceed via Mastersons Drive to Road Loop 2 and may drop off or fetch students along the lengths of Pedestrian / Waiting Areas D & E. They then exit through Gate 2-B or Gate 3 or park their vehicles in the Parking Lots.

Drivers entering Gates 2 or 3 may also access Road Loop 1 via the Collector Road and may drop off or fetch students along the lengths of Pedestrian / Waiting Areas A & B. They then exit through the Collector Road toward Gate 2-B or park their vehicles in the Parking Lots.

3. School Bus.
School Buses may enter Gate 1, proceed to Road Loop 1 to drop off students along the lengths of Pedestrian / Waiting Areas A & B. They then proceed to the School Bus Parking via the Collector Road.

School Buses may also enter Gates 2 & 3, proceed to Road Loop 2 to drop off students along the lengths of Pedestrian / Waiting Areas D & E. They then proceed to the School Bus Parking via Mastersons Drive. Students are fetched by School Buses in their respective School Bus Parking slots along the lengths of Pedestrian / Waiting Areas C-1 & C-2 around the Blue Eagle Gym. Students walk to Pedestrian / Waiting Areas C-1 & C-2 without crossing roads / streets.

 4. Faculty Parking. 
 Faculty Parking behind the Blue Eagle Gym and Parking of Administrators at the Inner Driveway shall be relocated to the rear of the Cafeteria where they walk through existing Covered Walkways at the side of the Cafeteria.

 5. Fetchers’ Parking.
Existing parking for the general public shall remain. Access to these areas shall be via manned Pedestrian Crossings through Pedestrian / Waiting Areas D and C-1.

Comments & Suggestions On New AGS Traffic Scheme

we have set up a separate page for your comments and suggestions on the  new AGS traffic scheme that will be implemented on june 10, 2009.

fr. nebres in a posting in this blog says he reads this blog. your comments posted here hopefully will reach fr. nebres.

please give your comments and suggestions, good or bad in this page: https://wawam.wordpress.com/new-ags-traffic-scheme-comments-suggestions/ or click the tab at the top of this page.

there is also a Photo Gallery Of  The New AGS Traffic Scheme – view photos of the effect of the new traffic scheme here. we also invite everyone to send us their photos so we can publish it here. email your photos to wawam.email@gmail.com. view this page here: https://wawam.wordpress.com/new-ags-traffic-scheme-comments-suggestions/photo-gallery-of-new-ags-traffic-scheme/

 

please let other parents know about this as well.

proposal: move AGS teachers parking lot and make it covered – aftermath of amiel alcantara’s death

based on the latest traffic scheme released by the ateneo, the teachers’ reserved parking lot is still there and will not be moved elsewhere. that space could be used as exit for cars getting out of the congested parking lot. it will increase efficiency and safety for all.

removing that reserved parking lot and turning it to use for fetchers and students is also one of the unanimous suggestion of parents and even professionals/experts. we do not understand why ateneo is blind and insensitive to that improvement.

we think it is best to remove that reserved parking lot for teachers and transfer it to a much better location. transfer the reserved teachers parking lot behind irwin theater.

that area connects to the back of the AGS canteen and already has an existing passageway. it also puts it very close to the teachers dining are at the back of the canteen. walking distance for the teachers from their cars to the campus will be reduced dramatically making it easier and more convenient for teachers specially on rainy days.

ateneo should not stop at moving the parking area to the back of irwin theater which makes it very convenient and significantly helps traffic and safety at the AGS parking lot, ateneo should make the teacher’s parking lot at the back of  irwin theater covered by a roof  to protect their cars and the teachrs from the heat and rain. we think the teachers deserve to be treated better as well.

this suggestion is a win-win for everyone concerned – safer and more efficient for fetchers and students and more convenient for teachers.

——

we shared the above same suggestion in a yahoogroup of ateneo parents (234 members) and we got a reply from one of the ateneo parents:

yes!…. teachers come early in the earliest and leave last…. they are old
enough to cross the street or yes, they can take the back of Irwin theater for parking… a lot of parents i know feel the same way.

we thought that was an excellent point. we gave this reply:

you raise an excellent point – teachers  arrive  first and leave last. that is an excellent rationale for  moving the reserved parking spaces from where it is now, beside the blue eagle’s gym.

since they arrive first and leave last, they are actually obstructing the flow of vehicles owned by thousands of students/parents/drivers who can use that prime real estate to exit the already cramped parking lot. freeing that space up for use of the thousands of students/parents/drivers will decongest the parking lot even faster and in effect have better safety for all.

moving their reserved parking spaces behind the irwin theater will be much better for them as it will be closer to the campus. they will need to walk a much shorter distance and that is good given the load of school things they have to haul from their cars to the classrooms.

that space behind irwin theater is unused. its a good idea to put it into good use for better traffic effiiciency, safer for our kids and more convenient for the teachers.

we also think ateneo should build roofs over the parking area for teachers for the comfort and protection of the teachers and theirs cars from heat and rain.

last night at the amiel alcantara shrine

last night, at around 9:30 pm, we passed by amiel alcantara’s shrine.

we saw 3 flower pots, the sunglasses, the remote control toy car and two candles were lit. 

a few things:

• the most surprising was the lit candles. we thought someone is being diligent enough to go to the shrine at night and light them. this is very time specific. that takes devotion.
• the flower pots are a very good idea. it is adorned by beautiful blooming flowers everyday, living things placed on the spot where amiel died.
• the flowers are blooming. that can only mean someone or some people are diligently watering the flower pots. an ateneo gardener? an ateneo parent?
• the flower pots, the toy car and the sunglasses were arranged neatly. someone took the pains to fix it and put some order there.  an ateneo maintenance man? security guard? a parent? 

the ateneo community continue to remember and pay tribute to amiel.

we also saw bond paper sized posters around the shrine. it had the image of footprints with a pair of angel wings on them. yes, that is the spot where amiel’s footprints stopped. but they now have angel wings for us to follow and to continue.

Losing Amiel worst pain of all, says amiel alcanatara’s yaya

[kyte.tv appKey=MarbachViewerEmbedded&uri=channels/48209/372339&tbid=k_11214&premium=false&height=445&width=425]

Inoperahan sa paa kanina ang yaya ng nasagasaan at namatay na Ateneo student na si Amiel Alcantara. Pero mas masakit para sa kaniya na hindi natuloy ang arraignment sa nakasagasa sa kanila. Magba-Bandila si Gretchen Malalad, exclusive. Bandila, Huwebes, Marso 12, 2009

source: http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/video/nation/metro-manila/03/12/09/losing-amiel-worst-pain-all-says-injured-nanny

video tribute by ateneo scoutmasters to scout amiel alcantara

This video was created by the scoutmasters of Ateneo Grade School in Tribute to Scout Julian Carlo Miguel “Amiel” C. Alcantara. We salute you Scout Amiel.

Family of Ateneo accident victim mulls hold departure order vs suspect

MANILA, Philippines – The family of Julian Carlo Miguel “Amiel” Alcantara, the Grade 4 student who was killed by a speeding van last week, said they would ask for the issuance of a hold departure order against the suspect to prevent her from leaving the country.

In her exclusive report in GMA News’ “24 Oras,” Mariz Umali said Amiel’s father, Jose Fernando, has never heard from suspect Ma. Theresa Torres after she posted bail last week.

“I don’t see her here so she must be hiding somewhere,” Mr. Alcantara said.

The Alcantaras’ counsels said they wanted to make sure that Torres would remain in the country for the investigation.

“We do plan to file a motion for the issuance of a hold departure order against Ms. Torres just to ensure that she stays,” said lawyer Rafael Aquino, one of the Alcantaras’ counsels.

The report quoted Torres’ legal counsel as saying that his client has no plans to hide or leave the country. He was also quoted as saying that Torres was traumatized by the accident but assured that she woud face the charges against her.

read in full here: http://www9.gmanews.tv/story/151243/Family-of-Ateneo-accident-victim-mulls-hold-departure-order-vs-suspect

amiel’s tragic death – this should never happen again at the ateneo!

the spot where amiel alcantara made his last footprints on when a van pinned him down to the back of another vehicle. he died shortly thereafter. it is now marked with flowers and lit candles. we should continue to make amiel's footprints by petitioning the ateneo to improve traffic safety in school. what happened to amiel should never happen again.

blue & white balloons for Amiel – “Fly High, Amiel!”

ateneo grade 4-manobo boys, classmates of amiel release blue and white balloons up to the heavens as the hearse (see headlight of the hearse, bottom left) carrying the remains of amiel leave the grade school compound. the balloons have the words "fly high, amiel" printed on them. his classmates also sent messages written on small pieces of paper, attached to each balloon.

an ateneo mom’s reaction to the Amiel tragedy

I just feel like I have to tell my story to let out the pain, the sadness, the anger and the guilt! . .
I was in the Ateneo Grade School (AGS) cafeteria yesterday with my Gr.3 and Gr.1 sons waiting for the dismissal of my Gr.5 son.  We were eating, doing HW and enjoying each others company.  I glanced to the Purefoods Hotdog counter and noticed some Gr.4 and Gr.7 boys fooling around while buying their hotdogs. 

It was 4:15 pm and my sons and I decided to head out to the car to wait for my other son in the parking lot.  As we walked out past the lady guard there was a commotion in the AGS driveway right beside the covered walk-way fronting the bulletin board. 

We ran and saw a lanky body full of blood all over his head being taken away to the hospital in a van.  His blood was on the ground and a foot long hotdog had fallen on top of the blood.  We were thinking could one of those boys we just saw minutes earlier been the boy taken away?

Many of the admin, students, teachers, parents and drivers were crowded around the scene. When I asked the driver beside the accident what happened he said a mother in a van asked her driver to get down from their car to fetch her son.  Then she took the wheel of the car. 

This part is fuzzy, but apparently the mom accidentally stepped on the gas pedal and hit Amiel Alcantara of 4- Manobo. (We’re not sure if, as she was moving her car forward to an empty space, she accidentally pushed the gas pedal hard instead of the breaks.)  Amiel and his yaya seemed to be just passing by in between the cars to get to their own car (like we all have done).  The mom hit Amiel so hard he fell to the ground and the yaya got struck in the leg or foot but is now ok with minor injuries daw.  The mom hit two cars in front of her too. 

I saw the scene and honestly there is no way the boy could have gotten out.  He was sandwiched between 3 cars that were left inches apart, he was pulled from under the cars. 

So the mom hit Amiel and the 2 cars in front of her and those 2 cars hit 2 more cars in front of them shattering the back window of one of them.  It was an unbelievable scene, the impact was so strong.  It was dismissal time so all the cars were parked on the AGS driveway within the 3 lanes alotted for standyby parking right beside the covered walk-way.  

The mom had no car behind her, she must have just moved her car forward talaga and accidentally hit the gas pedal really hard. The mom practically fainted and was taken to the infirmary in a stretcher.  I feel for her.
My boys and I got so close to the scene and saw the blood and the chaos.  And now looking back, maybe I shouldn’t have let my 7yr old and 9yr old see so much up close, but we all just gravitated to the scene. 

Later that evening when we learned that Amiel had passed away, my boys got so scared and clung to me like glue.  They couldn’t sleep and my 9yr old even had nightmares shouting out something about “cars” . . .

So of course we are all deeply saddened by what happened.  I felt so much pain and couldn’t stop crying and kept telling myself that it was such a “freaky accident” that it could have really happened to anyone of us!!! 

I also asked God what was the message and meaning in it all?  We prayed for Amiel, his Gr.7 brother Avie, the Alcantara family and the family of the mom, Ma. Theresa Torres. 
I am still crying when I think about what happened but I am also angry and guilty as well.  Angry because I see the root of the whole problem stems from the perennial PARKING AND TRAFFIC PROBLEM in the AGS. 

I have been a parent in the AGS for only 6 years and I have seen the problem worsen in the past 2 years.  As a current CPR for my Gr.3 son I felt it was our duty to voice out our opinions and offer solutions to this problem in the beginning of the school year.  If you can recall,  this was an issue earlier this school year with the incident between the “gun-toting dad vs. the pushy mom!”  And yet our voices fell on deaf ears. 

Their problem may have been resolved but the parking and traffic problem was not.  We are all still scrambling to get our boys in and out of the campus, it is never a pleasant experience.  I even learned that the MMDA was heavily trying to offer solutions and suggestions but the Ateneo Admin would barely budge, if at all. 

The MMDA wanted Ateneo to open up the sides of the soccer fields for temporary parking to accommodate the 5,000 cars that come, go, park, standby etc. in the AGS DAILY!!  Can you imagine 5,000 cars all at one time in and out of a 2 lane village?!  What a nightmare!  The MMDA got involved because the Ateneo was causing tremendous traffic on Katipunan and beyond!  At first I thought sayang naman our prestine soccer fields.  But come to think of it, is a good suggestion.  Another suggestion was to create a fly-over from Katips to enter Ateneo, but it’s too expensive I guess.  One other solution was to build a multi-level parking area like in the International School.  It seems this would be practical to meet our needs as a University.  Better yet another suggestion was to open up the 300 parking spaces of the Ateneo Conservatory for temporary parking!! . . . Haaay I could go on and on . . . . .

So this is where my guilt comes in because I wish I had pursued these issues, but heck, who am I?  Now yes I do agree with (name) and many others that WE ALL MUST write our school and our teachers to address our issues. 

We cannot let the soul of Amiel die in vain.  I know that God must have wanted Amiel badly to take him so suddenly but God must also be telling us to start taking an active role in ensuring the safety of our children’s environment.  We MUST be “productive” and not a hindrance to the problem by offering our “voices,” following the rules, and helping where ever and whenever we can.  We all must be ONE in this cause.  So let’s not put blame in any of this but instead help it to move forward for the betterment of all . . . especially for the love of our children!

Thanks for listening, this is just my two cents worth.   Let’s continue to pray for the Alcantara and Torres families.  Amiel’s body is now in the AGS chapel until Saturday.  Mass will be held Wednesday to Friday 6:30am and 7:00pm.  Last mass before the burial is this Saturday at 11:00am.  May God Bless us all.

STATEMENT ON THE DEATH OF ATENEO DE MANILA GRADE SCHOOL STUDENT AMIEL ALCANTARA

25 February 2009

Please refer to: Ma. Sonia Araneta, Tel. 426-6001, ext. 4086

 

The Ateneo Grade School, though its headmaster Fr. Norberto Bautista and the Ateneo de Manila University, through its president Fr. Bienvenido Nebres, express their deep sorrow and condolences to the family of Grade 4 student Julian Carlo Miguel (Amiel) Alcantara, who succumbed to head injuries before reaching New Era Hospital at around 5 p.m., Tuesday, 24 February 2009.

 

Amiel, son of Pepe Alcantara, was a valiant and responsible Boy Scout and a friend to many students. He had just completed the challenging year-end camp in Bolinao Pangasinan on Feb. 20-22 with nary a complaint, in spite of his asthmatic condition, according to his scoutmasters Ruth Senga and Raymund Gubat.

 

At around 3:45 p.m., Tuesday, Amiel, his household helper Tata Suarez, his sister Jana, his grade 7 brother Javier, their driver, and his brother’s friend, exited from the Ateneo Grade School main gate towards their parked vehicle.

 

At about this time, the vehicle of another parent was situated at the side of the University Physical Plant Office along the garage area which is near the entrance of the inner driveway gate.  Her driver alighted from the vehicle after which she took over the wheel to drive it forward. According to her, her vehicle accelerated uncontrollably and hit Amiel and then Tata Suarez and two other vehicles.

 

Spectators called for help and a car driven by another AGS parent was in the vicinity, and she, together with Amiel’s driver, rushed the boy to the New Era hospital. Efforts were made to revive Amiel at the hospital, but he died from head injuries.

 

Suarez suffered fractures in her shins and ankles and, accompanied by Jana, was taken to the school infirmary for treatment.

The Ateneo assures the community that a proper and thorough investigation of the incident has been launched, and that counselling assistance is being provided to the affected families and students. Masses and prayers are also being offered all over campus for the repose of the soul of Amiel, whose remains lie in state at the Chapel of the Holy Guardian Angels at the Ateneo Grade School. As a final tribute to Amiel, the AGS Boy Scouts will forego their scheduled pass in review tomorrow and instead hold a mass for their fellow scout.

 The Ateneo requests the media to respect the privacy of the parties involved in the tragic accident, and of those members of the school community who were profoundly affected by Amiel’s sudden demise, during this time of prayer and mourning.

prayers for Amiel Alcantara, grade 4 student, ateneo de manila grade school. died in a vehicular accident inside campus.

amiel alcantara is a grade 4 student at the ateneo de manila grade school. he died after a vehicular accident in campus.

we would like to ask readers for prayers for amiel.

 

Van kills 10-year-old boy inside Ateneo campus

02/24/2009 | 10:11 PM

MANILA, Philippines – A 10-year-old boy died Tuesday afternoon after a van accidentally hit him inside the Ateneo de Manila University campus in Quezon city, police said.

In a phone interview, Senior Police Officer II Jun Cuaresma identified the victim as Julian Carlo Miguel Alcantara, a student of the university.

Cuaresma said the victim was walking alongside his nanny, Tata Suarez, 65, when the van driven by one Ma. Theresa Torres, 37, accidentally struck them at about 4:20 p.m.

Cuaresma said based on Torres’ initial accounts, she accidentally hit Alcantara when she followed the car parked in front of her. She reportedly said she was waiting for her child and was parked in parallel near the main gate of the university.

Alcantara was pronounced dead on arrival at New Era Hospital while his nanny sustained several fractures.

Cuaresma said a ‘hysterical’ Torres was brought to the District Traffic Unit Section 3 after the incident. The Alcantaras, meanwhile, declined to give their comments. – Aie Balagtas See, GMANews.TV