MANILA — A Filipino working as a teacher in Mandalay was confirmed killed in the magnitude 7.7 quake in Myanmar that left thousands dead last March 28, his wife said Thursday.

4 OFWs reported missing after Myanmar quake

Kat Cruz-Aragon said the body of her husband, Francis Aragon, has been found in the ruins of Sky Villa, which was toppled by the quake.

“Sa embassy po, kinonfirm sa amin na [may] nakita po silang katawan at nagmatch po sa mga body marks na dinescribe namin na meron po ang aking asawa. Ganun din po sa area, nakita din po ang mga gamit at passport,” she said in a TeleRadyo Serbisyo interview.

(At the embassy, they confirmed that they had found a body and that it matched the description we gave of my husband. They also found his clothes and passport)

She said her husband's body has been cremated and the remains brought to the Philippine Embassy in Yangon.

Aragon said she was able to speak to Francis just a few hours before the massive quake, to talk about their plans for the day.

“Normal lang na pag-uusap namin sa umaga. Kapag nakakuha siya ng maayos na koneksyon, tumatawag siya sa amin,” she said.

(It was just a normal conversation. He would call us when he was able to find a stable connection)

The Aragons have two children, ages 2 and 4.  They have yet to be informed about how their father died. 

“Hindi ko pa po in-explain sa kanila. Bilang magulang, ayoko maramdaman nila ang masasaktan tulad ng nararamdaman ko,” she said. 

(I haven't explained it to them yet. As a parent, I don't want them to feel the pain I am feeling)

“Gusto ko maaalala ang tatay nila na laging masaya at mahal na mahal sila,” she said, adding that she will talk to her sons about their father's death later.

(I want them to remember their father as always happy and who loved them so much)

Francis, a former educator at Vicente Madrigal Integrated School Family in Binangonan, Rizal, had only been working in Myanmar for 10 months when the tragedy happened. 

Aragon said their initial plan was for Francis to save up so that the entire family could follow him or they could relocate elsewhere.

She described her husband as "masayahin" who got along well with other people. 

While she is still grieving over her husband’s death, Aragon said she is thankful that they had 17 years together as husband and wife and that rescuers found Francis’ body.

“Nagpapasalamat ako sa Panginoon sa 17 taon na pinahiram niya sa akin ang asawa ko, na makasama ko siya,” she said, tearing up a little.

(I am grateful to God that we had 17 years together)

“Nagpapasalamat din ako sa Panginoon dahil bago siya mawala, nagkaroon kami ng dalawang anak na makakasama ko.”

(I am also grateful to God that before my husband died, we had two children who will be with me)

Addressing her husband, she cried: "Alam ko nasa mabuti ka ng kalagayan kasama ng ating Panginoon, na hindi nahihirapan. Asahan mo na iingatan ko ang mga anak natin...Mahal na mahal ka namin."

(I know you are in a good place with God. Rest assured that I will take care of our children. We love you very much)

The Department of Foreign Affairs earlier confirmed the deaths of 2 Filipinos after the massive earthquake in Myanmar last month. Two Filipinos remained unaccounted for in Mandalay, the DFA said. 

DFA confirms second Filipino fatality from Myanmar quake

Junta spokesman Zaw Min Tun said on Tuesday evening that 148 people remained missing from the March 28 quake as

The earthquake has left 3,645 people dead, with 5,017 injured and 148 missing, according to junta spokesman Zaw Min Tun.

The earthquake has compounded the economic woes of the country gripped by a civil war since the military seized power in a 2021 coup. — With Agence France-Presse