A journey home from a church pre-wedding seminar ended in tragedy Saturday, Dec. 6, leaving a Bukidnon family grieving the loss of a bride-to-be, her infant daughter, and two others.
The collision between a fuel tanker truck and a tricab in Upper Zone 1, Sta. Ana, Tagoloan, Misamis Oriental, claimed four lives and has cast a pall over the upcoming holidays for the victims' families.
Among the dead were three tricab passengers: Baby Jane Tupaz, 34; her 1-year-old daughter; and neighbor Silvestra Tongco, 61. All were residents of Bagong Silang, Malitbog, Bukidnon. The driver of the tanker truck was also declared dead upon arrival at the hospital.
The loss is particularly devastating for the Tupaz family. Baby Jane had just attended a seminar at the Sta. Ana Parish Church, preparing for a mass wedding organized by the Holy Family Mission team scheduled for next year.
Her younger sister, Genevieve Tupaz–Juanico, shared her heartbreak on social media, mourning the future they will no longer share.
“Abi nako ko nga mag-uban ta pagkatigulang nato,” she wrote.
Initial investigations indicate the tanker lost its brakes while navigating a blind curve. The impact forced the tricab, driven by 26-year-old Jay Quilang, off the road and into a ravine estimated to be 100 meters deep.
While Quilang survived the fall, his passengers were thrown from the vehicle, landing near the tanker which had overturned on its side.
Genara Picon, 22, a nearby resident, witnessed the tanker approaching at high speed before the crash.
“Nasapon nalang nako nga natumba sya… abi nkog walay dulog, pagkakita nako naay mga bata,” Picon said, recalling the shock of discovering the victims scattered at the scene.
Only three individuals survived the fatal incident: the 4-year-old daughter of Tupaz, truck helper Mark Achas, and tricab driver Quilang.
Friends, neighbors, and the Holy Family Mission team have since rallied around the bereaved, extending prayers and condolences as the community grapples with the sudden loss.
