Widow of blast victim coping with loss

TALAVERA, Nueva Ecija, Philippines – The widow of one of the victims in last Friday’s deadly blast at Two Serendra in Taguig City yesterday voiced her fears of a bleak future for their children with the loss of her husband and family breadwinner.

Myla Hernandez-Umali, wife of Jeffrey Umali, said she is now left to fend for their two young children Jhey Myren, 4, and Jhemiella, 10 months old.

“Hindi ko alam kung kaya ko. Pero kakayanin ko dahil ‘yon ang bilin niya (I don’t know if I can bear it. But I will try to bear it because that’s what he told me),” she told newsmen at their residence in Barangay San Miguel Na Munti here where Jeffrey’s remains lie in state.

Umali and two fellow employees of appliance store Abenson were crushed to death when a giant concrete slab torn from Unit 501-B landed on their van as it was passing by. The blast injured four others.

She said Jeffrey died at around 8:10 p.m. on May 31 but she learned of his death only after midnight.

She last spoke to him at around 4 p.m.

Jeffrey, who was to turn 33 on Sept. 25, had been employed as company driver of Abenson for four years. He used to be assigned at the company warehouse in Pasig City but was moved last December to the store’s outlet at the Market! Market! Mall in Taguig City. The couple celebrated their fifth wedding anniversary last March 19.

Myla said they had big dreams for their young children, including sending them to good schools and making their lives comfortable.

“My husband has been working hard. He’s been toiling day and night, up to the wee hours of the morning so we can make both ends meet,” she said.

She said she had never heard him complain. He used to tell her about his having to work as a child so he could help his family survive.

With him gone, Myla said she was at a loss since her husband was the sole breadwinner. She said their house in Sta. Mesa, Manila is for sale. 

Taguig Mayor Lani Cayetano has provided financial assistance worth P20,000. Abenson has promised to shoulder Jeffrey’s burial expenses, with additional assistance from an employment agency.

Ayala Land has also promised assistance.