A second-year UST medicine student was electrocuted while braving floodwaters on España Boulevard amid the onslaught of Typhoon "Mario" last Sept. 19.
The same live wire that killed Siegfreid Nathan Arcilla, 22, also victimized two others that day. But Far Eastern University student Cedric Fabie, 18, and hotel employee Glendon Benedicto, 22, survived.
Arcilla was killed after his umbrella touched the live wire near UST's Gate 1 around 5 p.m., police investigation showed.
Vendor Radel Sumagang saw the victim lying on the ground and sought the help of UST security guard Geronimo Mazo. But Arcilla did not reach the hospital alive.
Arcilla's wake at Camp Crame, Quezon City from Sept. 21 to 24 was opened to the public to raise awareness on the incident, said Dale Dakila, UST Theological Society President and a close friend of the victim's. Arcilla's remains were cremated the following day at the St. Peter Crematorium.
“Maybe there was something lacking on the part of the government,” Dakila told the Varsitarian.
Arcilla was a graduate of biochemistry from the UST Faculty of Pharmacy. He was also a former Red Cross Volunteer.
The Faculty of Medicine and Surgery offered a Mass for the victim last Sept. 22. Ariane F. Merez
