Several mourners attended the funeral mass at the family's residence in Ecoland here. Some wore black shirts with Tato's face and the words "We Love You Day Rea" and "Fair Winds and Fair Skies 1Lt Sheena Alexandrea Tato NC C130 Fallen Hero" printed on them. The military performed a 21-gun salute in her honor.
"Inday Rea," as she is fondly called by her family, was among the fatalities when the C-130H plane with tail No. 5125 carrying 96 military personnel crash landed last July 4. Her remains arrived here last Friday, July 9.
"Day, pahinga ka na, ako na bahala sa mama mo ha? (Day, rest now, I will take care of your mama, okay?)" said her father, retired Army Col. Wilfredo Tato, as he tapped the casket being lowered into the ground. Her father then rendered a hand salute to honor their youngest child and only daughter.
Rea was born in Ozamiz City, the hometown of her mother, Marietta, on Oct. 10, 1990. She and her brother, Sheen Alexander, spent their childhood in a military camp in Zamboanga del Sur where their father was assigned.
She was appointed as probationary 2nd Lieutenant (P2LT) in June 2014. She took her pre-officer training course at the Philippine Army Officer Candidate School. In December 2015, she became a second lieutenant and three years later, a first lieutenant.
She was assigned as duty nurse in charge in the Air Evacuation Section at the Air Force General Hospital, 520th Air Base Wing, Col. Jesus Villamor Airbase in Pasay City.
Her 32-year-old brother, Sheen, said based on her statement of service, Rea served for "seven years, one month, and three days" in the military.
As of July 16, the death toll stands at 53, after a critically wounded soldier succumbed to injuries. Of those who died, 50 were military troops, while three were civilians.
GROWING UP IN ZAMBOANGA
Luzviminda Zulueta, a close friend of their mother and who at times looked after the Tato siblings in school when their parents were away, remembers Rea as an obedient child who loved to study even when she was still in nursery school.
"Obedient siya sa teacher niya. Tahimik din ‘yang bata na ‘yan, nagsusulat lang and study (She was obedient to her teachers. She was shy, she loved to write and study)," Zulueta said.
Marnie Martinez, Rea's childhood friend in the military camp, said she remembered the two of them selling sweet delicacies inside the camp during school breaks. Martinez said that even as a child, Rea already excelled in academics.
TRANSFER TO DAVAO
Sheen said Rea worked in a call center while waiting for the results of the board exam to help their family.
"’Yun talaga ‘yung lagi niyang iniisip, kung ano ang matutulong niya sa family (She was always thinking of how she could help the family)," he said. He said Rea even tried to apply as a nurse abroad.
He said what Rea lacked in physical strength she made up for it in her strong will.
"Sa amin talaga na magkapatid, si Rea, kung sa physical medyo siya talaga ‘yung mahinang tumakbo pero ano ‘yan, malakas ang loob (Among us siblings, she is the physically weakest but she has strongest will)." He said when Rea finally applied in the military, their father would jog with her in the morning.
"Pinapatakbo siya diyan sa SM. ‘Yung kapatid ko minsan habang tumatakbo, tumutulo rin ‘yung luha niya, umiiyak po talaga siya, hanggang katagalan parang nasanay na rin siya (They would jog around the mall. Sometimes, while running, my sister was also crying, until she got used to it)," he recalled.
LAST VACATION
"June 8 siya dumating. June 10 ‘yung birthday ng anak ko. Umuwi sila ng June 27, ‘yun ang balik nila sa Villamor (She arrived here on June 8, it was my child's birthday on June 10. They left on June 27. That was the time she went back to Villamor Air Base)," he said.
On the night before she left for Manila, Sheen said Rea slept with their parents like how they used to when they were kids.
Despite the tragic incident, Sheen believes that her sister was able to achieve her dreams.
"Minsan in doubt siya kung tama ba o mali itong pinasok ko na career pero nag-sumikap siya (Sometimes she was in doubt if she chose the right career but she worked hard)," he said.
"Sinasabi ko kina mama at papa ko na huwag na kayong malungkot kasi naabot ni Rea ‘yung pangarap niya na maging flight nurse, mapasok sa military. Tanggalin na yung doubt kung yan ba talaga ‘yung para kay Rea or hindi (I told my parents not to be sad because Rea was able to achieve her ambition to become a flight nurse and join the military. That they should remove their doubts if it was really for her or not)," Sheen added.
He said he believes that if given a chance to pick a career, her sister would still choose the same.
"Sabi ko sa kanila 'pag si Rea nabigyan ulit ng pagkakataon, sa tingin ko ‘yan at ‘yan pa rin ang pipiliin niya na profession (I told them if Rea would be given another chance, I think she would still choose the same profession)," he added. (With a report from Keith Bacongco)