Watch above: A memorial service was held Sunday afternoon for four temporary foreign workers killed in a collision last weekend.
EDMONTON — Family, friends and members of Edmonton’s Filipino community gathered to say goodbye Sunday, to four temporary foreign workers who were killed in a head-on collision last weekend.
Eva Caperina, Rosalina Tipdas, Archie Bermillo and Romil Mose were killed last Saturday morning when the vehicle they were in hit an icy patch and slammed into a tractor. The collision happened on Highway 21 near Leduc. All four were declared dead at the scene.
A memorial service was held for the Filipino workers Sunday afternoon at Hainstock’s Funeral Home.
“This is a very tragic story for all of us,” said Esmeralda Agbulos, Philippine Honorary Consul General in Edmonton. “This is the third time that we have come together that four Filipinos have died.”
Caperina and Tipdas both worked as caregivers. Caperina’s husband died from a motorcycle accident last year in the Philippines. Last week, Caperina’s cousin told Global News her two teenage children still live back home.
Bermillo and Mose, both men under 35, worked as cooks at Fatburger restaurant. They also lived together. Dianna Lasenby with Fatburger said both men have a spouse and a child in the Philippines.
READ MORE: 4 Filipino victims of collision near Leduc Saturday identified
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Agbulos saluted the four workers for the sacrifices they have made by leaving their families and homes in order to support them.
“The emergence of the temporary foreign workers has created another set of heroes. They are the new heroes of today because they’re the ones who are doing the sacrifices of coming here, leaving their families, leaving their homeland and being part of a new multicultural society.”
A trust fund has been set up for the victims’ families at ATB financial. Donations can be made to the 2014 Filipino accident victims fund.
“They have families back home that they’re supporting so we’re going to try to help them out with the donations that are coming in,” said Agbulos. “My heart goes out to the families of the victims, which we will try to look after.”
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