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| Fr Jay extols Maryan's sacrifices for her ward and her family |
Friends and family members of Maryan Pascual Esteban, the lone Filipino casualty in the deadly fire in Tai Po, paid final respects to her at Universal Funeral Home in Hung Hom on Friday, prior to her remains being repatriated to her hometown in the Philippines.
Among those present at the ceremony were Maryan’s employers,
who also lost their five-year old daughter, Hannah, in the fire.
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| DETAILS HERE |
Maryan and Hannah were found lifeless and lying
close to each other on a staircase of the building where they lived on the 24th
floor. They were reportedly awakened from a nap by a call from the girl’s
parents, and told to leave the flat immediately as their building was on fire.
Maryan, who was 39, had cared for Hannah since she was a baby.
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| Maryan's employers did not speak, but grief was clearly written on their faces |
In his homily, Fr Jay Flandez, chaplain for Filipino
Catholics in Hong Kong, extolled Maryan’s “sacrifices”, for her ward, and for
the family she left behind.mb
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| Basahin ang detalye! |
“For Maryan, that’s probably her way, sacrificing herself
for other people and her family,” said Fr. Jay. “Kung sarili lang niya ang inisip niya makakasama pa natin siya sa
Christmas party.” (If she only thought of herself, we would still have her
company during our Christmas parties).
Fr Jay asked everyone to pray for Maryan as well as
her employers, as they also lost a loved one in the tragedy.
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| I did not know her, but know her great deeds, says Cynthia Tellez |
Cynthia Tellez, manager of the Mission for Migrant
Workers, who helped organize the farewell service, said she did not know Maryan,
but came to know her from the courageous act she did trying to take the young
kid in her care to safety, even at the cost of her life.
Assistant Labour Attache Nemesia Arlan who represented the Migrant Workers Office at the service, assured everyone that the Philippine government would ensure that Maryan’s family, especially her 10-year-old son, would be given all the assistance that they need.
She reminded all other OFWs present, including those who survived the fire that engulfed seven buildings and killed 160 people, that they could also go to them for help.
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| ALA Arlan does the second reading during the memorial mass |
Maryan’s partner, Tintin, tried to deliver a eulogy,
but ended up in tears. After the service, Tintin shared with The SUN that she
was on the phone with Maryan in the final moments of her life, as she and Hannah tried to escape to safety.
“Kalma sya, pati si Hannah. Pero naputol ang connection namin paglabas nila ng bahay.” (She was calm, and so was Hannah. But our connection was cut as soon as they stepped out of the house.
The time was 3:14pm, about 25 minutes since the first alarm was raised over the fire.
After that, Tintin and Hannah’s parents and friends
started asking around if anyone had seen Maryan and Hannah who were then listed
as missing. Both were found dead two days later.
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| Tintin (middle, in green shirt) says she and Maryan were set to marry before a pastor this December |
Tintin said she was so heartbroken as she and Maryan had agreed to go home just before Christmas so they could tie the knot before a pastor in Manila.
Now that Maryan is gone, Tintin said she is
determined to go ahead with the ceremony, though it will now be held in Isabela,
with Maryan’s lifeless body beside her a sad reminder of what could have been.
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| Maryan's coffin is sealed for the flight home |
Maryan’s remains will be flown home to Manila on Saturday,
and brought to Jones, Isabela the day after.
The Consulate said her parents had requested for
early repatriation as they wanted to say goodbye to Maryan for the last time before
Christmas.
