A father’s promise to walk his daughter to school ended in heartbreak after a tragic road accident outside Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 1 claimed the life of his 4-year-old child.
According to an ABS-CBN News report, Danmark Masongsong, an overseas Filipino worker, was set to fly to the Czech Republic on May 5 to continue his job as a machine operator. But just before departure, tragedy struck. A vehicle crashed into their family outside the airport, instantly killing his daughter, Malia, and injuring his wife, mother, and niece.
The young girl, who had only recently expressed her wish for her father to bring her to school when she starts studying, never got the chance to see that promise fulfilled.
Masongsong, who had been away working abroad since Malia was just under two years old, had planned to work for two more years before returning home for good. Now, he’s facing a loss too heavy to bear.
“Napakasaklap po pamilya namin iyong nangyari. Anak ko po iyon. Mahal na mahal ko po iyon,” he said through tears.
His wife, still confined at St. Luke’s Medical Center in Taguig City along with two other family members, has not yet been told that their daughter has passed away.
“Hindi pa po niya alam… Talagang mahal na mahal ko po iyan. Kaya po ako nag-ibang bansa para sa kanilang dalawa,” he added.
Masongsong is now seeking justice and has asked authorities not to allow the driver involved in the accident to post bail.
Government agencies, including the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) and the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA), have extended condolences and assured support for the family. The DMW also said it would coordinate with Masongsong’s employer abroad regarding his emergency situation.
Malia’s remains have been brought to their hometown in Lipa City, Batangas.
