Online sympathies for crash victim

An outpouring of sympathy for the Cebu-based family of car crash  victim Kristina Angela Almase came from online friends and the local university where she studied in two years ago.

In a statement posted on its Facebook account, the University of Southern Philippines Foundation Inc. (USPF) Office of Alumni Relations (OAR) said it was saddened to learn of the April 3 death of Almase, one of its students.

Almase, 26, her elder brother and two friends on board a minivan were killed when the vehicle was hit head-on by an SUV fleeing  a patrol car for a traffic violation in  Florida, USA.

“The USPian community’s heart goes out to the families of Tina, Albert, Dennis, and Marie,” the statement read.

Almase or “Tina” was a graduate of Bachelor of Science in Nursing in 2011.

One of her USPF teachers Kathleen Vilaneza and the school’s OAR director described Almase as a strong and friendly student.

“She was  my student in Literature 1. In my class, she was very strong in her stand on certain issues. (Even if she was a low profile student) she always expressed her thoughts. She was very friendly in class,” Villaneza said.

Villaneza said she last saw Tina having dinner with her family at a mall in Cebu last Feb. 14.

A friend

Tina’s friends on Instagram and Twitter expressed their grief.

Heyitsmeladypearl commented “Rest in peace tina..:( Until now I really can’t believe you’re gone)” on Tina’s latest picture on Instagram. Most described Tina as a good person and a friend.

Kymisnotmanic commented, “I still can’t believe what  happened. You will be missed.”

Tina’s Instagram account also showed her close ties with elder  brother Albertson Anthony, who died in the crash.

Tina’s last post on Instagram dated April 3 showed a photo of two stuffed toys that Albertson gave her.

Her post read, “My new buddies, yes I am obsessed.”

Tina commented on her photo, “@chaygamallo yeah my bro got them for me. :) i even have the socks and hat? _____ awwweessoommmee.”

In grief

Her friend  Chayryl Mantalaba Gamallo posted her farewell on the Miami Herald news website last Saturday dawn.

“R.I.P Tina, All will miss you. :( Even I do. I cant believe what happened to you. We were just talking.”

“I knew Tina, she was the most down-to-earth person ever. I was just talking to her and was surprised to hear the news. I can’t believe she’s gone.”

Other friends expressed disbelief over the sudden deaths in  Twitter and Facebook posts.

Kristina , her brother and friends 33-year-old Dennis Ryan Rinon Ortiz of Daly City, California and 26-year-old Lily Marie Azarcon were killed.

The group was headed back to their hotel in Miami after watching a Miami Heat game  when their Kia Sorento was rammed head-on by a Chevrolet Suburban SUV.

The driver was being chased by Florida Highway Patrol troopers on Interstate 95.

Katrina, who is single,  has a young daughter in the care of her father in Cebu City.  A family member is expected to travel to the US to bring home the cremated reamins of the siblings, who were both US citizens. Correspondents Christine Emily L. Pantaleon and Tweeny M. Malinao