The grief-stricken seaman who lost his entire family in a vehicular accident  said yesterday he will dedicate his life to carrying on the work his son had started for the youth in Sagay City.

Erjo Junatas, 39, who works on a luxury yacht owned by a billionaire stockbroker, lost his wife Minni Magdalene, 39, son Gene Noel, 16, who was the president of the Sangguniang Kabataan Federation of Sagay City, and his daughter Ann Margarette, 6, in a vehicular accident in Barangay Tabigue, EB Magalona, 5:15 p.m. Saturday.

Erjo said his son wanted to promote sports, especially basketball, among the youth, and help the out-of-school youth.

“I will establish a foundation in memory of my family to carry on the programs my son had dreamt of doing,” said Erjo, who plans on naming it the Gel Foundation. Gel is the nickname of Gene Noel.

Erjo said he spoke with his family on a daily basis and the last time was in the morning before they died. “My wife was buying tiles for our garden and my son was in Bacolod having his braces fitted,” he said.

He was in the Caribbean at the time where his employer was on vacation on his yacht.

Erjo said when he learned of his wife and son’s death his fellow crewmen gathered around him to comfort him and when his employer woke up, the captain informed him about what had happened.

“My employer immediately lent me his private jet and had the first mate accompany me on the flight back to Florida where I was met by my sister, Era, and cousin, Rogenee, who flew back to the Philippines with me,” Erjo said.

“Without them I don’t know how I could have survived the trip home,” he said.

He said his fellow crewmen have shown concern for him, and his employer told him he can ask for anything he needs to ease his pain.

Erjo only learned that his daughter died on his arrival.

“I have been able to survive this terrible time because of friends and family who have been here for me,” he said.

And on the return of his family to Barangay Paraiso, Sagay, on Wednesday he was touched by the school children who lined the streets carrying flaglets to welcome them home, Erjo said.

His family will be buried in Tinago, Paraiso on Easter Sunday.

Roland Pasigado, the driver of the truck that killed the Junatas family and their driver, Allan Carmona, 26, was released from jail yesterday because the case against him was not filed within the reglamentary period.

Erjo, who was accompanied by his friend Bambi Yngson to the Provincial Prosecutor’s Office yesterday, said he will pursue the filing of charges against Pasigado for reckless imprudence resulting in multiple homicide.

“My family and I were very close, it is difficult to believe that they are now all gone, along with all their dreams,” he said.

“To continue what my son had hoped to do will give me a sense of purpose amid all that has happened,” he added.*CPG

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