Undetected leukemia claims salutatorian just before graduation

MANILA, Philippines - A 16-year-old boy who was supposed to graduate as Caloocan City High School’s salutatorian this year succumbed to complications brought about by leukemia two days before the graduation ceremony last Friday.

Christoper Umipig Fabia, 16, died Wednesday at the Manila Central University Hospital less than 24 hours after showing symptoms of the disease.

“He died so suddenly. No one knew he was sick. Not even himself. It was the first and the last time he complained about it,” said Deogracias “Jun” Fabia Jr., 53, Christopher’s father.

Deogracias said his son was restless, gasping for breath, the night before he died. He brought his son to the hospital at around 6 a.m. Wednesday after taking him to his cousin, a doctor, for treatment. He died at 3 p.m. the same day.

“We didn’t know he was sick of anything,” said Deogracias who lost his wife, Shirlie, 47, to breast cancer last September.

Shirley Fabia-Velasco, citing death records, said her nephew died from an unusually large number of white blood cells and a very low number of red cells in his system. Deogracias said an x-ray showed to him by doctors indicated water had invaded his lungs.

Still in denial

Deogracias still could not believe his son was dead. He remembers that the night before he died, Christopher prepared a salad for his classmates and friends to enjoy during graduation practice.

He failed to make it to the school’s Recognition Day on Thursday and the graduation ceremony on Friday night.

Christopher was set to take up engineering at the University of the Philippines in Los Baños, Laguna.

Christopher was a consistent honor student since elementary, his father said, adding that his son – whom they fondly nicknamed “Baldo” – took it upon himself to wash his and his siblings’ dirty laundry since he was a high school freshman.

Christopher is the second child of the Fabias. The eldest, Mary Anne, 19, is a third year computer engineering student at the Mapua Institute of Technology. His other siblings are Gerold Aldrin, 14; Glaiza Mae, 12; and Reich Jericho, 7.

Mary Anne, who was the closest to Christopher, said he was active not only in school but also in community and church activities.

She said he was student council vice president of the student council and was also either an officer or member of various school organizations, including the math and theater clubs.

Christoper was also active in the St. Peter and St. John Parish Church’s charismatic community, according to Mary Anne.

Caloocan City Mayor Enrico Echiverri lauded Christopher’s accomplishments as a student at the school’s graduation rites last Friday.

He personally offered his condolences and extended financial assistance to the family when he proceeded to the wake immediately after the graduation rites.

Christopher’s wake is being held at the Fabia residence along Pineapple Road in Barangay Potrero, Malabon City.

Interment has been tentatively set for April 8.