LILA SANTELICES and her family were celebrating her younger sister’s birthday when a doctor from Medical City, Pasig called. The doctor told them that Lila’s older sister, Tara, had passed away.
Lila said she was shocked with the news. “She was fine before. We [the family] didn’t expect it,” she added.
Antonia Marina Santelices (AB PoS ’08), nicknamed Tara, died of cardiac arrest on July 27 at 4 am, days short of her 24th birthday on August 6.
Her wake was held in Arlington Chapels in Pasig City. She was cremated on August 1.
The robbery
On the eve of her 23rd birthday last year, Tara was riding a jeep with her friend Joee Mejias on the way home. A man pulled out his gun and ordered them to hand their bags over. When Tara resisted, the man shot her on the forehead.
The driver continued his regular route as Tara began bleeding. Mejias brought Tara to a clinic, but it was ill-equipped for the emergency.
They had to ride a cab to Amang Rodriguez Hospital, where she was then transferred to the Intensive Care Unit at the Medical City. She was in a coma for three weeks.
When Tara woke up, she was transferred to a private room in the same hospital until June of this year. She stayed in her grandmother’s apartment in Cubao, but was rushed back to Medical City due to a high fever.
Musician, deep thinker
Music was Tara’s number one passion. She was the guitarist for a band called Saffron Speedway and a vocalist for Stormy, a duo that she formed with Mejias.
Aside from her music, Tara also liked to draw, paint, write, watch movies, and read books. She also wrote and directed a sci-fi film called Undertow.
Lila said that Tara was an overprotective sister. “Whenever we would go out, she would always look out after me. She would always ask if I was okay or if I need anything,” she added.
Meanwhile, Philosophy Instructor Marc Pasco said that Tara didn’t speak much in class. “Tahimik pero halatang nag-iisip (She was quiet, but you can tell that she’s thinking).”
“May mga matang may kakayahang magtago ng saloobin at sa pagtatagong iyon ay nakapaghuhudyat ng kabukasan sa pag-uusap ng malalim ([She had] eyes that hid her thoughts, but signalled an openness to deep conversations),” he added.
Tara worked for a nongovernment organization called Upland Marketing Foundation, Inc, which assists remote communities.
Justice for Tara
As the news of Tara’s story spread, her friends started soliciting money to pay for the hospital bills. They held benefit gigs, poetry readings, film showings, and art exhibits.
Pasco said, “Nangulekta ako ng pantulong sa kanya mula sa aking mga klase noon at ipinasa sa kanyang kapatid (I collected funds from my class and passed it to her sister).”
A friend of Tara’s father also created an online petition, called “Justice for Tara Santelices,” to legislate street crime prevention.
“It was overwhelming also to see how much support we receive from friends, relatives, and even from people we don’t personally know,” Lila said.
According to Lila, Tara’s legacy was in her music, because it brought people together.
“Even the people that she wasn’t close to came together, because of what happened to her,” she added.
Editor’s note: The GUIDON tried to get in touch with Tara’s friends, but they could not be reached as of press time.
