Pa’s death in collapsed building leaves child orphaned

ANGELES CITY, PAMPANGA, Philippines — “Punta Papa (Let’s go to Papa).” A 2-year-old girl repeated the words, unaware that her father, Ferdinand Arogante, 30, was buried in a collapsed building in Barangay Balibago after the May 24 tragedy. She insisted on joining relatives searching for him.

Her grandmother said she did not understand the situation. Authorities later confirmed that Ferdinand was among the dead.

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The child, who lost her mother a year earlier, is now orphaned.

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Rescuers have since recovered more bodies, raising the death toll to 21. —JOANNA ROSE AGLIBOT