Gone too soon

As the elections wind down and the festivities fade into silence, we remember that the past week wasn’t an easy one for Cebu’s media industry. Last Sunday, we lost one of our own --someone who wasn’t just a journalist, but a friend and a sister to many. Emmariel Ares, a dedicated multimedia reporter, died in a motorcycle crash after spending a week in the hospital. The impact of the accident severely damaged several parts of her body, but the impact she made on those she left behind continues to resonate.

Her career began even while she was still in university --fiery, passionate, and driven. She dedicated her life to journalism, making sure every story that bore her byline lived up to the highest standards. As a young reporter, she was assigned to the Defense-PNP Press Corps, a challenging beat often dominated by men but that never stopped her. She made sure her audience was reading the best of every word she wrote.

The circumstances surrounding her death were shocking and heartbreaking. She was coming home from a late-night coverage, and on her way, she offered to drop by a convenience store to buy food for her younger sibling. As she was crossing the street to reach her house, she was hit by a speeding vehicle. Authorities won’t tell you this at this point but closed-circuit cameras show that the motorist was beating the red light. He sped through it so recklessly that he didn’t see Emmariel crossing --throwing her violently onto the pavement. Justice has yet to be served for such a senseless and irresponsible act. Incidents like this make us rethink whether granting driving licenses should be more difficult than it currently is.

She was a gem, taken far too soon. As a person, Emmariel was kind and thoughtful. In many private moments we shared beyond work, she showed genuine concern --not just for me but for all our colleagues. Her time was precious, yet she made it a point to sit down with everyone dear to her, especially when there were too many heavy burdens to unload. I’d like to call her a safe space --a radiant soul who kept our struggles in confidence while silently battling her own.

I’m going to miss her, and I’m going to miss her stories. We had so many plans for the rest of the year --a trip to Siquijor, a concert, and maybe even an international vacation to South Korea. In my final moments with her, I told her I would try to fulfill all of those plans without her, even if it hurts. My time with Em was short, but it was nothing but sweet and filled with love. I would say I was lucky to have known her, and I will cherish her forever.

What happened to her should serve as an eye-opener to all drivers, especially motorcycle riders who have a sister, a mother, or a friend. You don’t just twist the throttle on a whim. One reckless move can steal a life so full of promise. Here lies another innocent soul taken by careless driving. She was gone too soon.