White balloons were released by the classmates and friends of slain special education teacher Ramy Jacildo from Bacolod at the open field of Saint Scholastica’s Academy in Bacolod City yesterday afternoon to bid her goodbye.

Her classmates, who were wore white blouses, had earlier gathered at the SSA Chapel, where a short prayer service for the eternal repose of her soul was held.

They also wrote their messages on colored paper and tied them to the balloons they released all together to say “goodbye” to Jacildo. Some of them carried pictures of their slain friend.

Jacildo, 22, of 88 B.S. Aquino Drive, Bacolod and a graduate of SSA Bacolod, was shot dead Saturday by her Italian-American boyfriend, Vincent Russo, 26, of Virginia, at the Woodward Terrace home of her sister in Central Valley, New York, after which he took his own life in an apparent murder-suicide, the NY police reported.

Russo shot her three times and then shot himself in the head.

During the prayer service, Jacildo’s batchmate Sybel Juarez prayed that God would guide the members of the Jacildo family who are grieving over their loss.

She also thanked God for giving Jacildo, whom she described as full of joy and life, to them.

Jacildo’s nanny Nancy Ordes, who also attended the activity sponsored by the batch 2005 of SSA, wept as she recalled the fun memories she had with her.

Ordes said she would always remember her as good child and that she would be missing her.

Jacildo was shot once in the head and two times in the body, her parents told Ordes.

Ordes said Jacildo’s parents plan to cremate her remains after her wake and bring her ashes home to the Philippines for burial at a later date.

Shamynn Quilantang, the physical education teacher of Jacildo, said she will miss the child-like laughter and husky voice of her student.

Quilantang described Jacildo as a bright student who was also active in other extra-curricular activities of the school.

Meanwhile, Precy Equipaje yesterday said, “Ramy was devoted and passionate about teaching special children.”

Equipaje is the directress of the Second Home for Hope Learning Center in Bacolod City that caters to children with special needs.

She said Ramy worked with them as an assistant teacher and the children were quick to warm up to her because she was good, kind, fun loving and bright. She loved teaching special children, she was very patient, Equipaje added.*APN

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