MALAYBALAY CITY (BukidnonNews.net/ 29 October 2024)—The two Central Mindanao University students who figured in separate fatal accidents last week were laid to rest today.
On October 23, Wednesday morning, at the onslaught of Typhoon Kristine, 21-year-old Joshua Dacillo Fronteras was driving his motorcycle from his place in Lumbo, Valencia City on the way to his classes when he collided with a truck parked along Musuan road. He was in his 3rd year of studying Animal Science at the College of Agriculture where he also served as the student council’s associate treasurer.
In the afternoon, another student, Maxwell Aynrand Hablo Cubillas, 19, was walking with his classmates near the campus Gate 4 when he got struck by a fallen tree. He was a 2nd year English Language Studies major at the College of Arts and Sciences.
The CMU community has been in mourning since last week, with the university administration holding a candle-lighting ceremony on Oct. 24 to honor the students’ lives. Several friends shared anecdotes and offered tributes through speeches and freedom wall messages.
UNIMAGINABLE LOSS
“Josh, thank you for sharing your life with us and for being a true friend,” said Joshua’s friend Sharra Lou Magan in a speech. “Your memory will always remain in our hearts and minds forever. I entrust you to God, knowing you are in good hands. Rest in peace, our dear friend.”
In a Facebook post, Joshua’s peers at the CMU Karatedo Club where he was president considered him as the “dojo’s sunshine.” They wrote: “Though you’re gone Senpai, the memories we’ve shared not just as co-karatekas, but as a family, will forever remain in our hearts.”
For Charles Ivann Patilano, Maxwell was “a great supporter of talents, doubting his very own. He’s a supportive blockmate who had the tendency to haunt you with his eyes during high pressure oral recitations to encourage you. He would always commend you with ‘maayoha kaayo oy’ whenever you did well. If you didn’t, he was a solid shoulder to cry on.”
Philip, Maxwell’s classmate who was with him during the accident, wrote on the freedom wall: “You saved me. While I was saving you. Pre! In memory of you, I’ll promise to take care of myself.”
Dr. Jose S. Valmorida, VP for Academic Affairs, reminded the community: “It’s okay to feel a range of emotions—sorrow, confusion, or even anger. We encourage everyone to reach out for support, whether from friends, family, or professionals. You are not alone. We are a community that cares deeply for one another…Let us keep Maxwell and Joshua’s families in our thoughts and prayers as they navigate this unimaginable loss.”
Maxwell’s mother, Delightt Logramonte Hablo, shared a photo with him on Facebook with the note, “I love you so much baby..leaving mom too soon anak..sakit kaayo love.” (“I love you so much, baby…Leaving mom too soon, my child. It’s very painful, love.”)
Joshua’s mother, Dorin Fronteras, wrote, “We appreciate your love and support during this difficult time. Please continue to keep us in your thoughts and prayers.”
ON CLASS SUSPENSIONS
Meanwhile, CMU’s official student publication Central Post released an editorial on Oct. 24 calling out the university administration for not suspending the classes.
The editorial said, “Such a storm need not have turned deadly, but in the absence of decisive action and real concern, lives were placed at risk.” The university administration was also urged to employ a more proactive disaster risk management framework.
The Northern Mindanao arm of Kabataan Partylist, one of two youth sector representatives in the Congress, released a statement calling for the same.
“The administration owes the students and their families not only an apology but also the complete overhaul of their safety protocols.” They also called for an increased national education budget to be used for creating disaster safety mechanisms in schools.
In a Facebook post, Roxanne Ortega, Maxwell’s cousin, wrote: “the concern lies in the lack of action after the first accident occurred in the morning. Despite this tragic event, classes were not suspended, which could have prevented further incidents later in the day.”
She said that the Office of Student Affairs’ post-accident reminder urging students to “stay indoors rather than roam around the campus,” “to be mindful of surroundings,” and “not use CP or headset while going from one building to another” added to her family’s frustrations.
“In such a painful time, the focus should have been on empathy and immediate support for the families affected,” she said.
Class suspensions at the collegiate and graduate school levels are guided by the CHED Memorandum Order (CMO) No. 15, series of 2012. In the CMO, institutions are required to automatically suspend classes when Signal No. 3 is raised by the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa).
The CMO further states that in the absence of that advisory, it is the prerogative of the local government unit and university heads to suspend the classes as a precautionary measure, especially when there are special circumstances such as flooding.
WEATHER FORECAST
While Typhoon Kristine pounded Luzon and Visayas, and affected parts of Mindanao, no warning signal was raised for the latter. Despite this, mayors of several towns such as Dangcagan, Pangantucan, Kibawe, and Kitaotao in Bukidnon suspended classes in all levels as a precaution.
The localized 24-hour Pagasa advisory for the province from 5 a.m. of October 23 to the next day predicted “cloudy skies with scattered rains and thunderstorms due to the Trough of TS ‘KRISTINE.’ Moderate to strong winds coming from the Southwest direction will prevail. Possible flash floods or landslides due to moderate to at times heavy rains.”
Though flooding was not reported, real-time hazard evaluation using Project NOAH on Oct. 24 and 26 indicated that the 3,080-hectare campus and the greater Musuan and Maramag areas have a moderate to high risk for it.
Strong winds were also forecasted for Northern Mindanao in the “Other Hazards” section of the Pagasa advisories issued on Oct. 22, 23, 24, 25, and 28. According to Pagasa, local winds may be enhanced in coastal and upland areas.
However, a cursory check on the real-time DOST-Advanced Science and Technology Institute weather sensors near CMU showed they are all not working. The sensors are as follows:
- UPAWS, which measures soil temperature, moisture, and electric conductivity (CMU campus, non-operational since 2020);
- Rain gauges in Kuya (non-operational since 2020); PhilRice Field Musuan and Maramag Municipal Hall (both non-operational since 2022);
- Aboitiz Lufft, which measures rainfall amount, air pressure, wind speed, among others (Crystal Sugar, non-operational since 2014);
- Water-level sensor (Maramag Bridge, relocated in 2018).
Bukidnon News is still waiting for DOST-ASTI’s response.
Based on the respective families’ announcements on Facebook, a private cremation service was held for Joshua in Cagayan de Oro City while mass at the San Isidro Cathedral in Malaybalay was offered for Maxwell before his interment at the Shepherds Meadow Memorial Park. (BukidnonNews.net)