Fund drive launched for family of mother who died saving baby
BACOLOD CITY—A fund drive has been launched for the family of a 29-year-old woman who died saving her 2-month-old baby boy and her mother in Barangay Mabigo, Canlaon City, Negros Oriental, during a massive flood spawned last week by Typhoon “Tino” (international name: Kalmaegi).
Frances Angela Garilao Pecson, a chemical engineer who worked at the Universal Robina Corp.-Southern Negros Development Corp. (URC Sonedco), a sugar mill in Kabankalan City, lost her life in a flash flood that hit their community in Canlaon City, on Nov. 5, according to her sister-in-law, Joniah Idyll Pecson, who has initiated a GoFundMe drive at gofund.me/851f79851.
”Angela tragically lost her life during the onslaught of Typhoon Tino in Canlaon. Even in her final moments, she displayed extraordinary courage—doing everything in her power to protect her 2-month-old baby and save her mother before being swept away by the strong floodwaters. Her selflessness and love will forever be remembered”, a post on Facebook also said.
Angela was one of the 20 persons who died in the city at the height of the typhoon, as rapidly rising floodwater overwhelmed homes.
“In her final act of love and courage, she managed to keep her baby safe—but sadly, she was swept away by the strong current and did not survive,” her sister-in-law Joniah wrote on GoFundMe.
“She was a loving wife to my brother, Jasper, and a devoted new mother who only wanted to give her child a good life. Now, my brother is left to raise their baby alone while trying to recover from the loss of his wife and the devastation caused by the flood,” she said.
Unimaginable tragedy
Joniah said she created the GoFundMe drive to raise funds to help cover funeral expenses, provide for the baby’s needs and help support her brother and her sister-in-law’s family, who were trying to rebuild life after the unimaginable tragedy.
“Any amount, no matter how small, will mean so much to our family during this painful time. If you can’t give financially, please help us by sharing this page or keeping our family in your prayers,” she added.
Jasper said the baby was their first child.
As of Monday, the death toll on Negros Island attributed to Tino has climbed to 75, while 39 were missing, the Office of Civil Defense-Negros Island Region (OCD-NIR) reported on Monday.
Negros Occidental 5th District Rep. Emilio Yulo appealed to residents with drones to help in the search for the missing in his badly hit district.
Search and rescue dogs and drones were being used to locate the missing in Isabela and other parts of the 5th District, he said.
Three K9 teams have been deployed, Yulo said.
According to Yulo, there could be about 60 people still missing in the 5th District, he said, pointing out that poor communication from remote areas has hampered their gathering of exact figures.
The OCD-NIR said the death toll in Negros Occidental were 14 in Moises Padilla, La Castellana–10, Bago City–7, Isabela–6, Ilog–6, San Carlos City –3, La Carlota City–3, Murcia –2, Himamaylan City–1, Hinigaran–1 and Binalbagan–1.
Negros Oriental counted 21 dead, 20 in Canlaon City and one in Vallehermoso, the OCD reported.
