Saudi mishap victim had big dreams

Salundaguit (left) and Cornelio-Tan. (CONTRIBUTED)

“SHE was full of life. She had big dreams.”

This is how Dr. Wamelaida Cornelio remembers her daughter Adhara Cornelio – Tan.

Tan left for Saudi Arabia two months ago and worked as a dentist in Hayaty Asnany Dental Center in Saudi Arabia.

Last June 20, Tan and another Cebuana, Mae Cheryl Salundaguit, died in a bus mishap bound for Jizan to buy groceries.

Cornelio said Adhara wanted to work abroad for her  6-year-old daughter. She tried to stop her but Adhara still left for Saudi Arabia.

Cornelio said she will help raise her 6-year old granddaughter.

Adhara’s husband Eduard said the last time they talked was two weeks ago. They had been married for eight years.

The family hopes that her remains will be repatriated to Cebu soon.

Cornelio said they have asked for help from all of their friends.

So far, the family has no updates yet regarding the investigation on the bus mishap. So far, the family’s priority now is the return of Adhara’s remains in Cebu, she said.

Dean Michael Berdin, Salundaguit’s brother, said Mae Cheryll wanted to work abroad so she can build a house for her family.

Berdin said his sister was soft-spoken and kind.

“I could still remember the memories I had with her. Words aren’t enough to describe how I feel about the loss of my sister,” Berdin said in a phone interview.

He said their family is now processing the papers to bring his sister’s remains to Cebu.

A mass was offered for the victims at the Southwestern University chapel yesterday by the Cebu Dental Society and faculty of the College of Dentistry.

Both Mae Cheryll and Adhara were dentistry graduates of SWU.

Most of those who attended wore black. They were emotionally affected.

The bodies of the victims are expected to be flown to Cebu only after the police department in Saudi Arabia is done with the investigation.

Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) 7 regional director Anika A. Fernandez said the employer of the victims is processing the repatriation.

“A police clearance from the local authorities is still needed for the repatriation,” Fernandez told Cebu Daily News.

DFA-7 is coordinating with the office of the Consulate General in Jeddah.

“As of the moment, we have no exact date when the remains will be repatriated,” she added.

She assured the family that they are closely monitoring the case despite the time difference and office disruptions because of the Ramadan./WITH CTU INTERN MARC ERIC COSEP