Family of man who died in plane seeks aid to get body from Guam

Family members and friends of a Saipan-based Filipino gas attendant who died of a heart attack aboard a plane are still raising funds needed to get his remains from Guam and bring him home to the Philippines.

Zenaida Balisalisa told Saipan Tribune they are hoping that people will help them financially so they could remove the body of her husband, Amado Balisalisa, from a funeral parlor in Guam.

Balisalisa will be buried in his hometown in Pangasinan, a province located in the northern part of the Philippines.

Mrs. Balisalisa said she and the family are very thankful to those who have already helped them, especially Irene Tantiado of the Coalition of United Workers.

In an interview, Tantiado said they estimate the total cost for funeral and medical expenses as well as plane tickets between $8,000 to $10,000.

The Balisalisas have four children. One is staying in Guam, while three are on Saipan. Only Mrs. Balisalisa and one of the children are expected to attend the burial.

Continental Airlines has expressed willingness to offer a discounted fare for the remains.

“The family members and friends already conducted fundraising left and right, but it is still not enough,” Tantiado said. She learned that, as of Tuesday, the family was able to raise just a little over $4,000.

She said the fundraising activity conducted last Saturday by Balisalisa’s son and friends—with the assistance of McDonald’s management—produced about $1,200.

Tantiado said that Balisalisa’s employer, Chamber of Commerce president and businessman Jim Arenovski, was among the first to give financial assistance to the family.

Tantiado said she already forwarded to the family a total of $1,500 that was channeled through her by some concerned people.

Balisalisa, 47, had an Immediate Relative status because of his son. He was reportedly on a Continental direct flight from Manila to Saipan last June 18 when he had a heart attack. The incident prompted the plane to make an emergency landing in Guam where Balisalisa was pronounced dead at the hospital.

Tantiado said she learned that Balisalisa just had a bypass operation in March in the Philippines. Without a medical clearance, he made the June 18 flight because of the family’s scheduled interview for a green card in Guam on June 23.

Tantiado said anyone who wants to help may contact her at 483-6867 or the family at 288-1580 or 285-1115.