ANTIPOLO, Rizal - The lone survivor of the van involved in a fatal multi-vehicle collision on the Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway (SCTEX) on May 1, has been discharged from the hospital.

Jerry Tuazon is now facing an even more painful reality— the loss of his wife, their only child, and close friends who were with him during the tragedy.

Fighting back tears, Tuazon shared the heartbreak in an interview.

“Nadurog na yung puso ko. Sobrang bigat. Yung mga sakay ko, pinagkatiwala sa akin — yung hipag ko, anak, asawa ko, kapitbahay. Sa akin pinagkatiwala ‘yun. Wala akong nagawa...durog talaga ako. Durog ang puso ko,” he said, his voice breaking.

Tuazon said they were on their way to Pangasinan for a children’s camp, with his wife, their 8-year-old child, sister-in-law, and close church friends in the van.

“Tuwang-tuwa sila kasi sabi nila after ng camping, diretso kami ng Baguio. Pinalitan ang apat na gulong… usapan kakain kami. Dumaan kami sa gas station… umihi sila, sumakay, umalis na kami,” he recounted.

But everything changed in an instant.

“Ay, nagkataon po na pagkakataon na ‘yun, ay kami ‘yung ginawang preno nung bus. Wala akong naramdaman, ni marinig wala. Hanggang ngayon iniisip ko, pinipilit ko — wala akong narinig. Nagising ako, nasa ospital na ako.”

Tuazon stayed in the hospital for several days, unaware that his wife and child had already passed away.

“Nung time na sabi ko, ‘Doc, kailangan ko umuwi. Kailangan niyo ako i-discharge, i-transfer niyo ako sa Antipolo. Makita ko lang po sana ang pamilya ko.’ Pinax-ray ako, CT scan...marami nagsasabi himala daw talaga yung nangyari kasi wala akong bali sa katawan, hindi nabiyak ulo ko, wala talaga,” he said.

His wife, a doctor at a government hospital, was his partner of 12 years.

“Yung nangyari na ‘yun, tanggap ko na ito ay pinahintulutan ng Panginoon. Para sa akin, sila ay natutulog lamang. Masaya na ako na pinahiram kayo ng Panginoon ng ilang araw, mga panahon, at taon. Magkikita tayo muli,” Tuazon said.

Tuazon also extended forgiveness to the bus driver involved in the crash and had a plea for Solid North, the company that owns the bus.

“Okay na po ako. Napatawad ko po yung driver. Ayoko pong ipasara ang Solid North. Yung mga driver doon may pamilya rin po sila. Yung mga pasahero, kailangan din sila. Kung may pagkukulang ang kumpanya, ‘yun ang punan ninyo — regular na drug test, seminar, at oras ng trabaho dapat sakto lang. Tao sila, hindi sila robot. Para safe lahat, safe sakay mo. Yung pamilya ko sana kasama ko ngayon, pero dahil isa lang driver nila, ganito ang nangyari sa amin,” Tuazon said.

The funeral for Tuazon’s wife, child, and loved ones are scheduled for Friday morning.