Fly High Amiel!
Amiel’s classmate attaches a note for Amiel on the balloon
Amiel died on this spot
A touching Video Tribute for Amiel Alcantara with a song “Gone too Soon” brought tears to almost everyone present (View video tribute.)
Final Viewing at the the Chapel of the Holy Angels at the Ateneo de Manila University Grade School
Amiel’s coffin being brought outside
Amiel’s classmates follow with their balloons
Some classmates carry a flower
Amiel Alcantara’s classmates converge in a circle
Pepe and Melanie Alcantara prepare for the balloon release
Khan Alcasabas (The Alcantara’s driver), Tata Suarez (the yaya in wheelchair) to the left participate in the balloon release
Fly High Amiel , as his classmates release the balloons
Amiel’s car pass by as balloons are released
Yaya Tata Suarez is inconsolable. As soon as I take this photo, I go to her and offered my hand of sympathy
Friends , classmates, relatives clap as the balloons which carry “Fly High Amiel” soars to the blue skies
Julian Miguel Carlo C. Alcantara
“Amiel”
Born on July 20, 1998
Joined His Creator on February 24, 2009
(at the back of the card is a poem)
“Safely Home”
I am home in Heaven, dear ones;
On, so happy and so bright!
There is perfect joy and beauty
In this everlasting light.All the pain and grief is over,
Every restless tossing passed,
I am now at peace forever,
Safely home in Heaven at last.Did you wonder I so calmly
Trod the valley of shade?
Oh, but Jesus’ love illumined
Every dark and fearful glade.And He came Himself to meet me
In that way so hard to tread;
And with Jesus’ arm to lean on,
Could I have one doubt or dread?Then you must not grieve so sorely,
For I love you dearly still;
Try to look beyond earth’s shadows,
Pray to trust our Father’s Will.There is work still waiting for you,
So you must not idly stand;
Do it now, while life remaineth
You shall rest in Jesus’ land.When that work is all completed,
He will gently call you Home;
Oh, the rapture of that meeting,
Oh, the joy to see you come!
Fly High Amiel! Till you are safely Home.
Cathy writes more in her entry, Fly High, We Bid Amiel Alcantara Good-bye
Pepe Alcantara’s Eulogy
Continue reading in my next entry the Message of Pepe Alcantara to Amiel, his family, to himself and the community. It is very touching and poignant.
Video Tribute with Gone Too Soon Song
“Gone Too Soon”
Like A Comet
Blazing ‘Cross The Evening Sky
Gone Too Soon
Like A Rainbow
Fading In The Twinkling Of An Eye
Gone Too Soon
Shiny And Sparkly
And Splendidly Bright
Here One Day
Gone One Night
Like The Loss Of Sunlight
On A Cloudy Afternoon
Gone Too Soon
Like A Castle
Built Upon A Sandy Beach
Gone Too Soon
Like A Perfect Flower
That Is Just Beyond Your Reach
Gone Too Soon
Born To Amuse, To Inspire, To Delight
Here One Day
Gone One Night
Like A Sunset
Dying With The Rising Of The Moon
Gone Too Soon
Gone Too Soon
News and Video
Outpouring of grief at cremation of Amiel Alcantara
For the latest Philippine news stories and videos, visit GMANews.TV
Amiel Alcantara cremated at Arlington
For the latest Philippine news stories and videos, visit GMANews.TV
That poem gives us a better perspective of this otherwise tragic event. Rest in peace, Amiel. You are in the Heavenly Father’s arms.
imoms last blog post..BlueWater Day Spa – Capitol Hills Launch
It is consoling to know that Amiel is in his Father’s arms. The same way that my Luijoe is.
Funerals are depressing. :\
Laurens last blog post..The Wednesday Night Dinner Date (with a germ doctor)
It is sad and depressing yet there is hope that one day, one will find a new life without the loved one.
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Hi Noemi,
I’ve been following your blog since this happened. Thank you for updating it and keeping everyone posted. I really feel sad, even though I didn’t know Amiel personally. It’s a really horrible and tragic accident and I just hope that the school and other concerned parties will make sure that this never happens again inside the campus. Fly high, Amiel. Paalam.
Regards,
Carlo
Carlo Oples last blog post..Chewy Junior (Singapore)
Hi Noemi, I was also there awhile ago during the wake.
Even up to now, I am still in the state of shock on how an accident as tragic as what happened can transpire inside campus premises.
Awhile ago, mothers wept as Tito Pepe said the eulogy. Hearts were touched when messages from classmates and family were flashed in the presentation.
In time, we will understand why things have to end this way. At the moment, the least that we can do is to pray for Amiel’s soul and learn our lessons.
Frankie Torrelavegas last blog post..Prayers and Justice…
I teared during the video presentation. Gone too soon is a song that rings so true for parents like us that lost a child. In time, we will understand all of this.
It is indeed difficult to understand why tragedies happen. Particular if it happens to children. The line “God’s will” was never acceptable to me especially when I cannot fit the cruelty of what happened into my life. I understood it better when it was explained to me in terms of “exercise of free will”, a gift given by God across the Board. Which means the good and the wicked alike get to enjoy it. Tragedies happen when people become victims of those who exercise their free will the wrong way. There is the right and wrong. People tend to lose faith when a tragedy is explained to them as God’s will. God’s image change from the ever-loving Father to an omnipotent sadist. Very wrong. If I, for instance, place in harm’s way the life of a person because I have been grossly negligent or simply did not care what my actions will bring that I end up killing the person, someone who I don’t even know, how and why will God will it? The person now has become a victim of the wrong exercise of my free will. I have not chosen to be more careful, more vigilant even if I know the place is a Grade School and children might just run around. On a more grander scale, I may choose to kill for money and the person becomes a victim of the wrong exercise of my free will. The sins committed in the wrong exercise of free will are, I think, greater in magnitude because not only do I break God’s Laws but I also destroy God’s grand design and plan of life for the person. I may have disrupted something great that shall come to be in the future. The pains that come along with a child’s death is searing and eats away at the very core of one’s heart. I have five children and have not lost anyone to death but I feel for the parents of Amiel. It is indeed going to be valiant on the part of Torres to stand up and accept whatever retribution to ease the pain a little and somehow free her of the guilt. I pray for all.
Understanding God’s way is a process that bereaved parents have to figure out in their grief process. It’s not an easy process but it is part of the journey.
Amen to that Addie….
Hi Noemi, i am in tears while reading your post, my sympathy to the alcantara family, you experienced the same before and kudos to you for helping the bereaved families move on, my day is not complete without me checking if you post something, the funeral for amiel is really a heart breaking scene for friends and his family, all i can contribute is prayer for all. cool mom of germany
It is a sad day for the Alcantara’s. The pain has not set in yet. I pray that he continues to have the same loving support from friends and family.
song for amiel
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JhY-CTOU_so&feature=channel_page
The poem made me cry.. Tribute…. In every message you can feel how they really love amiel…. its so sad that he died so young but we know that he is in a place that so peaceful and he is now in good hands….. Way back then when my 2 daughter got sick so badly, i cried a lot… how much more losing a dear child,,, how painful it is??? But in every challenges we have to face, GOD is always there to answer all our question. He knows everything….. Lets just pray for the soul of Amiel…..
Like what they said ” FLY HIGH AMIEL”.
Noemi you are right about it being a process. Along the way of understanding God’s way one experiences anger and bitterness that comes with the pain. There is also resentment of the destiny, people involved and sometimes even God Himself. One continues to seek for who to blame for what happened. But does God take it against you? No. It is part of the healing process. God did not create in us robots incapable of calling to forth the warranted reaction. In fact, all these were created in us as part of our humanity. These are the steps one must take and for as long as one responds properly to God’s graces there should not be any problem. Iam reminded so much of Immaculee Ilibagiza, author of the book Left to Tell. It was her life story and how she coped with the Rwanda genocide in 1994. She hid in the bathroom of a pastor along with 7 other women for 90days to escape the slaughter of the Tutsis by the Hutus, the two warring tribes in Rwanda. Her family though was not spared. The genocide was Hutu government-instigated and by the time it ended in July1994, about 800,000 to 1,000,000 Tutsis laid dead in the streets hacked with a machete. But while in hiding, God opened her heart and asked her to forgive (OMG! extremely difficult). She went through the whole process of anger, bitterness even to the point of doubting God existed. She heard so many voices in her mind discouraging her that God cares and He loves. But gently she was led back and forgave. God takes care of the loved ones we lose in either tragedies or old age or sickness. We heal and the beauty of it all is that in the end we see the beauty created in us by such loss. It builds are characters and make our faith stronger, patient and persevering. Very much like that of St. Peter’s. Regardless of the many mistakes he made, even denying the Lord Himself, His faith simply refuse to give up. He knows deep in his heart God loves him despite all his mistakes. Does God understand if parents grieve for loss due to death of a child? Does He understand if it takes them a while to come back from such grief? Does He understand the difficulty of the parent’s unwillingness to forgive the person or probably even themselves? YES to all. In the end, GOD TURNS BAD THINGS TO GOOD FOR THE BENEFIT OF THOSE WHO LOVE HIM.
In the beginning, I too questioned God and in the end, God was the one who saved me from my deepest darkest hour. But we can’t dictate that to Pepe or others in grief. They need to process this themselves and find the meaning. Questions like “why? why God? why me? what if? ” or statements like “if only..” is common. Let’s allow the bereaved to process this with the help of supportive friends.
I am praying and hoping that Amiel’s family would be fine soon. I know it’s easier said than done, but we all know that Amiel is with the angels in heaven and with our Lord. My sincerest condolences to the family.
Wow, this post was very heart touching. I lost a young friend too, so I know the pain it must feel especial for the family involved. I just hope Amiel is in a better place.
Till then,
Jean
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I feel very sad for Amiel and his family. I don’t know Amiel personally, I hope that his soul will rest in peace.
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We read the following Associated Press news report in Yahoo today, April 11, 2009
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/churchgoers_run_over;_ylt=AvCiv9YVQUtYnJO7XDrM9wADW7oF
and saw the similarity of the reported incident to the accident that killed 4th Grade Ateneo student Miel Alcantara.
Our thoughts…
——-
No one intends for them to happen. But they do happen. Tragedies befall even good and holy people.
We mourn and sympathize with the victims, but our hearts reach out to the “offenders,” as well. Decent people who have never expected to be involved in such tragedies – who may have made a mistake and consequently be at a loss trying to understand what happened.
A C C I D E N T S.
Unless the drivers have been drunk, or driving recklessly, they are as much victims (yes, of circumstances) as their own victims
There must be a purpose and a reason for such tragedies. Whatever the Almighty God is trying to communicate in and through these tragic events, they must make those involved (and even us spectators) better individuals. Better persons.
——-
From the Associated Press
Priest Runs Over Churchgoers, Cops Say; 1 Dies
FOREST HILLS, Pa. – Authorities and witnesses say a priest drove into a group of churchgoers after a Good Friday service near Pittsburgh, killing an 89-year-old woman and wounding four other people.
Madeline Romell’s leg had to be amputated shortly after the Friday afternoon crash in the parking lot of St. Maurice Catholic Church in Forest Hills. She was pronounced dead about five hours later.
Four others were hurt, but Forest Hills Mayor Ray Heller Jr. says their injuries weren’t life-threatening. He says the injuries included a broken leg and a broken arm.
Parishioner Angela Thomas tended to the wounded, including a man pinned under the car. She says the priest told her the accelerator just went.
Witnesses say the priest served at St. Maurice’s Church.
Go to this page for the Videos – http://news.search.yahoo.com/news/search?p=forest+hills