By Cesar Antonio Nucum Jr.

SAN FRANCISCO/PARANAQUE CITY — Finally, a homecoming happened for the Filipina septuagenarian who was pushed to death as a BART train was approaching the Powell Station in San Francisco.

The remains of 74-year-old Corazon Dandan was brought back to the Philippines as she wished on August 5, to be brought and viewed at Manila Memorial Park in Sucat Parañaque on August 9 and 10 before a funeral mass and private interment services are done in the  afternoon of August 11, 2024.   

This was gathered from Corazon’s nephew Dr. Alvin Dandan who speaks for the Dandan family. Dr. Alvin himself did not accompany the remains of his Tita Cora, but the brothers of Corazon and Alvin’s uncles were with her in her final journey to her resting place.

Asked whether BART management got in touch with the Dandan family to extend assistance or any commiseration, Alvin revealed that “other than initial investigation by BART Police, BART management has not reached out to the Dandan family.”

“Results of the BART PD initial investigation were forwarded to the San Francisco District Attorney and murder charges were filed against the suspect. Not much investigation (was done although) there were witnesses. But also a video (recording) that is confidential (was among the gathered evidence) and that is more than enough,” Alvin shared. “No I was not given any result of the initial investigation and not even verbal findings. My communication with them was limited to just acquiring all of her belongings.”

The video recording usually is not for public consumption unless the court thinks otherwise and Alvin himself “didn’t want to see it anyway.”

“No apologies not even condolences were heard from BART to the families as it has become mayabang (insensitive and arrogant),” Alvin said. “When the funeral home reached out for expenses help, they wanted me to sign a non-disclosure agreement that will also make sure that we will not sue them. I refused.”

Arraignment is scheduled  on August 16 after numerous postponements as the suspect was under medical care. 

The Newall Chapel at the Cypress Lawn Funeral Home in Colma was packed with people whose lives were touched by 76-year-old Corazon Dandan, who died on July 2 after she was pushed into the path of a Millbrae-bound train, before her remains were trannsported to the Philippines. 

The suspect – Trevor Belmont, 49, also known as Hoak Taing – has been charged with murder and elder abuse. Dandan, who fell onto the platform and sustained severe head injuries, was rushed to the hospital, where she later died.

Corazon has worked with Westin for around 40 years, first with Philippine Plaza and then with Westin Marriot San Francisco when she migrated to California. She was not contented working with Westin, she also took same kind of work at PARC Hilton before her work shift at Westin Marriot Union Square. She opened her home in Daly City to relatives and friends who needed a place to stay as newly arrived immigrants