Some of the most cherished belongings of 12-year-old Carl Jayden “CJ” Baldonado were placed near his coffin, weeks after he was fatally struck by falling debris from a condominium building in Quezon City.
CJ, a seventh grader, was among three students hit by debris that fell between the seventh and eighth floors of the Atherton Place Condominium on August 12.
Reports said the students had just come from a convenience store along Don A. Roces Avenue, at the corner of Tomas Morato, when plaster from the condo suddenly fell and struck them on the head.
CJ remained in a coma until his passing on Tuesday, August 26.
His father, Jason Baldonado, later dedicated a heartfelt tribute to him on Facebook.
“Kuya CJ, Carl Jayden Baldonado, sorry sa lahat ng pagkukulang ko bilang isang tatay. Pinakamasakit bilang isang magulang ang maghatid ng anak sa hukay. Tapos na din ang paghihirap mo, kuya CJ, binigyan mo kami ng magandang laban,” the patriarch said.
“Pinagbigyan kami ng Panginoon ng [second] chance na makasama ka para makapag-paalam. Alam ko narinig mo kami sa panahong lumuluha ka ‘pag kausap ka namin. ‘Wag mo kami pabayaan, kuya. Masakit, pero alam ko lahat may purpose si Lord. Samahan mo kami palagi sa mga pagdadaanan naming pagsubok, kuya,” Jason added.
Meanwhile, some of CJ’s cherished belongings were placed near his coffin on Thursday, August 28.
Among them were Rubik’s cubes, some toys, and Bible verses that he had collected over the past few years.
The image touched many Filipinos, who expressed their sorrow online and wished CJ eternal peace following his untimely passing.
“Ang sakit. RIP [Rest In Peace], CJ,” a Facebook user wrote.
“Nakakapanghinayang. Ang bata pa, madami pa sana siyang magagawa. Rest in Peace,” another commented.
“Rest well, kuya,” a different Pinoy said.
Quezon City legal officer Carlo Austria said authorities are investigating whether a telecom antenna installed on a building wall along Tomas Morato Avenue may have weakened the plaster that fell and hit the students.
The city government also said it is preparing with the Quezon City Police District criminal and administrative complaints against “those believed to be responsible for the incident.”
It likewise assured the public it will “do everything necessary” to ensure that CJ and the other students “will obtain justice.”
“Handa rin ang lokal na pamahalaan na ibigay ang lahat ng tulong para sa pamilya sa anumang hakbang na nais nilang isagawa,” the Quezon City LGU said in a statement.
“Hinihikayat namin ang lahat na ipagdasal ang agarang paggaling ng iba pang biktima at bigyang-lakas ang mga pamilyang naapektuhan. Makakaasa kayo na gagawin ng Lokal na Pamahalaan ang lahat ng aming makakaya upang hindi na maulit ang ganitong uri ng kapabayaan,” it addded.