Updates on Cebu Accident

By: Veronica Leighton

 

So many people in our community were shocked and in utter disbelief when they read about the sad news in this column last month about the fatal van accident in Cebu that killed Chicago’s noted physician Dr. Nunilo Rubio and a nurse from Orland Park, Ms. Au Au Gagni, together with some medical missionaries from New York, totaling to seven dead people. Three people that survived but were seriously injured are Dr. Elenita Rubio, Fred and Nora Tsai, active community leaders of Chicago.

The latest developments about this unfortunate incident were emailed to us by Dr. Gerardo Guzman, past president of PMAC, with accompanying pictures….the wake and burial of Dr. Rubio was held in his hometown, Bacoor, Cavite, attended by thousands of his friends and townmates. Unfortunately and sadly, his wife, Elenita, who had to stay in the hospital and undergo seven surgeries from her fractures sustained from the accident, could not attend her husband’s funeral.

Dr. Guzman sent us a picture of Dr. Nunilo Rubio’s wake in a beautiful Bacoor Chapel and a picture of Dr. Elenita Rubio, surrounded by her visiting friends from Chicago inside the Asian Hospital in Manila, Philippines, where she is currently confined. He’s saying that Elenita is progressing well and is on the road to recovery. Please see photos on this page.

Meanwhile, we thank our friends Fred and Nora, who were both injured, in taking their time to send a message to their worried friends, reassuring them that they are OK and that their spirits are strong, and thanking them all for their prayers, well wishes and visits. We are sharing with you Fred’s letter dated February 6, 2018.

“To our dear family and friends,

It has been over two weeks since our tragic accident. Nora has undergone two surgeries to repair five fractures and has been in rehab for a week now. Due to the multiple fractures, the rehab will take quite some time. In my case, my eye injury is taking longer than anticipated to heal and therefore, I am having my son Bob and daughter Mei Mei help me in updating all of you. There will be surgery done on my eye after it has healed sufficiently to be safe to do so hopefully in the next two weeks.

I expect us to be here in Cebu for at least another three weeks. We will then, hopefully, get clearance to fly to Manila, where we will continue Nora’s rehab for another month or two. I should be getting my eyesight back within the next month at which point I should be able to communicate with you much better. In the meantime, thank you all for your prayers, well wishes, and the visits of many of you at our hospital in Cebu.

Our bodies may be broken but, with all of your love and support, our spirits remain strong.

Fred & Nora”

From the Rubio family, let me share with you a poignant post that my niece, Cheryl Canare Rubio, posted on Facebook. Cheryl Rubio is married to Dr. John Rubio and they live in Houston, Texas, with their two sons, Ethan and Peter Xavier.

“Today we will say our final farewell to my beloved father-in-law. I haven’t said much the past couple of weeks because I haven’t been able to put into words how I feel. Sadness, anger, grief, heartbreak…. it’s been hard to properly grieve with John gone halfway around the world caring for his mom. It’s been difficult for all of us to deal with this situation… Many of you will remember dad for his generosity, his love of caring for his patients, for his intelligence. Many others will remember him for his kindness and love for his family and friends. I will miss him for his soft-spoken nature, our small talks about anything whether it was about sports or news or just what was going on in our lives. I will remember him for the man who welcomed me into his family when I married John… the person who excitedly travelled with mom within hours after Ethan was born to meet his first grandson…a person who was eternally patient through good and bad. His personality shines through his son who I am personally blessed to have in my life. His legacy will live on through his grandsons, who we will make sure they will never forget. Don’t worry, Dad, we will take care of mom. We will cherish all our memories together in our short time as a family together. This is not goodbye forever. This is until we see each other again. May eternal rest grant unto him, O Lord, and may perpetual light shine upon him. May he Rest in Peace. Amen.”

Photo shows our last dinner together with good friends Nora and Fred Tsai before they left for their annual medical mission in the Philippines (and later met a dreadful accident in Cebu). The Tsai’s never fail to take us out for dinner before leaving and upon arriving in Chicago. With us were another friends, Heather and Freddy Alba, at the Mandarin Inn in Chinatown Chicago.

Dr. Elenita Rubio lying in hospital bed, surrounded by her Chicago friends from the PMAC.

Dr. Nunilo Rubio laying inside his coffin during the wake and funeral service held at a beautiful chapel in his hometown of Bacoor, Cavite.