Abalos remembers beloved daughter Ciara

Interior Secretary Benjamin “Benhur” Abalos recalled the time he lost his eldest daughter and one of his most beloved, Ciara Marie, 20 years ago.

In an interview on Bernadette Sembrano’s YouTube page, Abalos remembered how his faith was tested when his daughter died at the age of 19.

“Ciara is my first born... She's very active. Kung siya'y nabubuhay pa malamang she's the one who will take after me. She's very much grounded. Hindi mo makikita sa bahay 'yon, always tumutulong ‘yun sa slum areas,” said the DILG chief.

Abalos said his daughter was part of a group in school that underwent an immersion activity in a slum area in Tondo.

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“Hindi ko alam tumira doon, kumain doon,” said Abalos.

She was supposed to leave the next day for the US, when she complained of chills at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport and was not allowed to leave.

Ciara developed high fever and was rushed to the hospital. Despite doctors’ efforts to save her, she died after 12 hours.

“She died in the morning,” said Abalos. Doctors said succumbed to complication brought about by an Escherichia coli bacterial infection.

“All the time nung namatay ang anak ko there's this doubt sa sarili ko. Makikita ko pa ba ang anak ko? Is there really heaven? Meron ba talagang D’yos?” he said.

“There will come a time that the teachings of the Church iku-question mo, naging weak ako.”

While holding a wake for his daughter, Abalos’ sister noticed something strange whenever she was calling his brother through cellphone.

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She said the call back carried a “happy tune” contrary to the somber occasion they were going through.

Abalos talked to his service provider days after Ciara was buried. They could not explain what happened, especially as the call back tune lasted for only seven days.

“We don't carry it for seven days, buwan po iyan bago mawala,” he quoted the service provider as saying.

Abalos said the call back turned out to be aa part of Jose Mari Chan’s “Christmas in our Hearts.” 

"It said ‘… never forget the love we have for Jesus. Let him be the one to guide us… and may the spirit be always in our hearts,’” he said.

“Tumatak sa akin yun,” said Abalos. “It's a music that would always tell me.”

The Abalos family later set up a foundation in honor of his daughter.  

The Chiaramarie Foundation has been helping underprivileged kids in laguna, Benguet, Legaspi City and Negros.

"It's been running for 20 years (since Ciara's death)," said Abalos.