Will You Help Tara Santelices?

I saw this email first on my niece’s Multiply. Then Cathy blogged about it. On both those times, I sort of glossed over the email thinking it was one of those “help someone” calls that I can read some other time. The third time, however, it showed up at a forum I was enrolled in. So curious me read the entire email (when you see something over and over again, there must be a message there somewhere for me!). The story of Tara Santelices hit me so hard that without knowing her, I promised to blog about what happened. All this happened, I hear, because she resisted the holdupper who was trying to take her laptop.

But things do happen for a purpose. There was a connection to her even stronger than just receiving 3 notices. Last night, I learned that her sister Lila is the English blockmate in school of our eldest girl, C1.

Wow! Now I really need to post this.

After you read this and you feel compelled to help in whatever way, act on your feelings. You can forward this story to your email contacts, pass on my URL post to others, or even help the family in any way as described below. Or you could pause from whatever you are doing and say a fervent prayer for Tara. Whatever it is, JUST DO IT!

As a parent myself, I pray that all parents be spared having to undergo this kind of horrible nightmare and that all our kids who travel to and from school and work be given divine protection always. God bless us all.

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Word spreads around fast and almost everyone has already heard about what happened to our dear friend, Tara Santelices (Assumption Antipolo’s Batch 2003 and Ateneo de Manila University’s Class of 2007, AB Political Science).

On the eve of her 23^rd birthday, Tara was shot in the head during a hold-up while riding a jeepney along Imelda Avenue, Cainta, Rizal. Joee Mejias, who was with her at that time, rushed her to Amang Rodriguez Memorial Hospital in Marikina City. The parents of Tara and Joee arrived at the hospital shortly thereafter. When morning came, Tara’s parents finally decided to transfer her to the Medical City, Ortigas Avenue, Pasig City. Since 8:00am of August 6, Tara has been in the ICU fighting for her dear life. Her parents have decided not to push through with the operation.

Although it might seem that there is nothing else that we can do but wait for Tara to wake up from this horrific nightmare, we, the friends of Tara, have decided to raise funds for Tara’s hospital bills. This is the least we can do to ease the unbearable pain her family is going through. We have been given the go-signal from Tara’s dad, Tito Larry, and here are the details:

The temporary bank account is under Anne Marie F. Santelices, Banco de Oro, SA 2140-062201. For direct cash donations, please proceed to the ICU Waiting Room of the Medical City (Ortigas Avenue, Pasig City). Please look for Joee Mejias or Lila Santelices.

Any amount will be gratefully accepted. Anonymous donations are also welcome. Please spread the word. Forward this to your family, friends and even to everyone else you know. Please post this on Friendster, Multiply, Facebook and wherever else you can think of. Please send group messages on Yahoo Messenger. This will mean so much to us, her friends.

Please continue praying for Tara, for Joee and for both of their families. If you want to come see Tara, visiting hours at the ICU are at 9:00 am to 11:00 am and 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm.

Thank you so much for your time and kind consideration.

For inquiries, please contact Joee Mejias (09228154987) for calls and Jac Ledonio (09167243071) or Myka Francisco (09163695148) for text messages