A Mother’s Grief Turned Into Advocacy
Ma. Louella (Peaches) Martinez-Aranas
Dengue claimed her only daughter’s life. Now this mother is on a mission to help prevent the same fate from happening to others.
Losing a child is one of the most piercing experiences a mother can endure. Complex emotions such as intense sadness, guilt, powerlessness and hopelessness often accompany a bereaved mother’s persistent grief journey. Birthdays and holidays trigger a more intense sense of loss.
Sandy Martinez Aranas could have turned 22 in May 2025. There would have been a glacé icing cake decked in candles, pretty flowers, balloons bursting in summer colours and a delicious spread to celebrate her birthday. Could have. Would have. Instead, what could have been a happy party turned out to be yet another solemn day for the family of this perky girl, who lost her life to Dengue at the age of 10.
“The pain doesn’t go away. I lost Sandy to Dengue in 2013. She was only 10 years old. All it took was one deadly Dengue mosquito bite. I felt hopeless. It was devastating watching my spirited beautiful little girl slowly fade away in just one week, and that image will forever be etched in my mind,” says Ma. Louella (Peaches) Martinez-Aranas, who still gets emotional each time she has to relive that fateful day.
Sandy’s story is the story of thousands who unnecessarily lost their lives to Dengue
“We still don’t know where and when Sandy was infected by the Dengue virus. She showed flu-like symptoms so we took her to a doctor, and as an added precaution checked her in a hospital, where further tests confirmed it was Dengue. I was so confused. I was so bothered,” Peaches recalls.
Under a 24-hour watch at the hospital’s pediatric ICU for nearly a week, Peaches could feel it was hard for Sandy, who never complained. She eventually showed signs of getting better. Peaches was hopeful her daughter was on the road to recovery, even looking forward to being moved out from the ICU to a regular room. It was the first time in seven days that Peaches stepped out of the hospital because she was told Sandy was doing okay.
“My memory of that day may not be a hundred percent. But I remember briefly leaving the ICU for dinner and returning with her MacAir. Everything was okay. She was playing something on her MacAir. But around 11:00 p.m. Sandy suddenly couldn’t breathe. The rest of the night was chaotic. They were intubating her, her blood platelet took a dive, the machines were beeping, etc. Amidst all these, I vividly remember holding her hand, praying for her survival,” Peaches says.
Medically speaking, the window between 10:00 p.m. and 4:00 a.m. was critical. Sandy was hanging in there. Before Peaches knew it, Sandy was gone the next day.
It didn’t make sense. She was under the care of doctors and nurses in a hospital. How could this happen? Why? It was an emotional rollercoaster for the bereaved mom.
A mom’s personal advocacy to spark Purpose and Hope in others.
Dengue is a silent killer, but it can be prevented. No one needs to die unnecessarily because Dengue can be avoided. This recurring thought was on her mind even while still grieving the passing away of her daughter in the early days. She had to do something for Sandy, to give meaning or some sense to her death.
“I started The Sandy Project within weeks of Sandy's passing because it was so painful. I don't know if I was conscious about what I was doing, actually, but somehow it led me to thinking this shouldn't happen to anybody else…. it cannot… it's preventable,” says Peaches. “It’s my personal advocacy to keep Sandy’s memory alive; to spark Purpose and Hope in others, and to stop the unnecessary loss of lives,” says Peaches.
Established in 2013, The Sandy Project is a Dengue awareness and prevention campaign to educate communities, starting with primary school children, so they can stay safe as well as help save others in their communities. It raises a red flag with a clear message that Dengue virus-carrying mosquitoes don’t choose their prey. They just bite anyone, anywhere.
“All it takes is one mosquito bite for anyone to get infected, and even die, if left unattended. But no one needs to die from Dengue,” emphasizes Peaches, who is a lawyer by profession. “The Sandy Project is a battle against Dengue. We need to talk about the dangers of Dengue. We need to raise our voice in order to make people aware of the threats and potential fatal consequences.”
Dengue. The Silent Killer.
Sandy’s story is the story of thousands who lost their battle against this Silent Killer. It can happen to anyone regardless of age, religion or gender.
In the Philippines, a total of 95,000 Dengue cases have been recorded at the beginning of 2025. That’s 75% higher compared to the same period in 2024,” according to the nation’s Department of Health (DOH).
Latest data shows that from January to May 2025 alone, 189 deaths have been reported in the Philippines. No specific treatment for endemic Dengue exists.
Dengue outbreaks are largely seasonal, with most episodes occurring during the country’s annual wet season starting in June and could run until February. However, people have to be vigilant all year through.
The ‘Dengue Police’ encourages kids and adults to stay vigilant in patrolling their schools and neighbourhoods.
“You think there’s a one in a million chance of getting bitten by a tiny mosquito. But that’s not true. Anybody can be infected with Dengue fever. Mosquitos don’t choose their prey. They just bite,” warns Peaches.
It takes courage for Peaches to keep replaying the anguished final days of her daughter, but it is exactly this sorrow that makes her more resolute to prevent more loss of lives.
The World Health Organization (WHO) confirmed that over 7.6 million dengue cases have been reported to WHO in 2024, including 3.4 million confirmed cases, over 16,000 severe cases, and over 3,000 deaths.
“Prevention is the best way to fight Dengue. The solution is elementary. There are no mosquitoes if there are no breeding grounds. It’s that simple and it’s sustainable if we can work together,” says Peaches. “It is a major public health problem that’s endemic in our country.”
Understanding what Dengue is and how to prevent getting it is one of the core reasons The Sandy Project underscores in its outreach program targeting elementary pupils.
Pasig Mayor Vico Sotto supporting the anti-Dengue campaign
The Sandy Project is an ongoing, self-funded initiative covering numerous Dengue awareness campaign activities in schools and some communities. Peaches and her team have visited schools in Metro Manila, Bulacan, the Bicol Region, San Carlos City in Negros Occidental, Escalante City in Negros Oriental, among others. More visits are scheduled this year.
The goal is to educate children on Dengue prevention. Peaches believes if The Sandy Project can educate the kids, ages 11 – 14, to be aware of what Dengue is, what it can do to harm them, and what they can do to protect themselves… half the battle is won.
“We will strive to reach more kids to educate and empower them to keep their homes mosquito-free. The only way to avoid contracting the Dengue virus is to prevent mosquito bites and avoid endemic areas. We will speak to the children and communities. We will raise our voice to save lives on time,” Peaches continues.
What you need to know about Dengue
We’ve heard plenty about Dengue. But do we really understand what it is? Here’s what you need to know about Dengue, the Silent Killer.
Misconception: Dengue mosquitoes only bite at night.
Fact: Mosquitoes carrying the Dengue virus often bite from sunrise to sunset; hence, they are called “day biters”.
Misconception: Dengue mosquitoes only lay eggs in dirty water.
Fact: Mosquitoes carrying the Dengue virus can lay eggs in stagnant or still water, whether it is clean and clear or not.
Misconception: Dengue is contagious person to person.
Fact: Dengue is only transmitted through the bite of an infected female Aedes mosquito. Sneezing, saliva, or other secretions of an infected person are not contagious.
Dengue mosquitoes don’t choose their prey. They just bite. (Image: Philippine Information Agency pia.gov.ph)
Misconception: Dengue can be treated with antibiotics.
Fact: Dengue is caused by a virus. Antibiotics are for treating bacteria. So antibiotics are not a cure or treatment for Dengue.
Misconception: All mosquitoes carry the Dengue virus.
Fact: Not all mosquitoes carry the Dengue virus. Only the Aedes mosquito carries the Dengue virus. And there is no way of telling or identifying Dengue mosquitoes once you’ve been bitten.
Misconception: The ‘Tawa-tawa’ plant is an effective remedy for Dengue.
Fact: ‘Tawa-tawa (or Gatas-Gatas) has not yet been proven to cure Dengue. For now, Tawa-tawa is only registered as a supplement. Further studies are needed to see the effect of Tawa-tawa against Dengue.
Misconception: Dengue lasts for weeks to months.
Fact: Consult the nearest healthcare providers immediately when symptoms of Dengue such as sudden fever, severe headache, pain behind the eyes, and muscle and joint pains occur.
Spreading the word: Prevention is the best way to fight Dengue.
Peaches believes in empowering and equipping school-age children with knowledge in Dengue prevention. Somehow if mother and child are aware of the dangers of Dengue, they can start in their own backyard. Something should be done to stop kids from getting infected by or dying from dengue.
“I'm not a doctor. I don't know the science. But I did ask myself, “What am I capable of doing to spread the word?” It's really about telling people you can die if you don't take this seriously. And if you take it seriously, it's not hard to eradicate mosquito breeding grounds. Imagine if you're able to remove the stagnant water,” says Peaches, remembering how Sandy’s siblings JC and Paco as well as Sandy’s friends collaborated to produce a video showing easy-to-follow prevention tips during the initial stages of The Sandy Project.
The video inspired the idea of producing an illustrated children’s book in two languages (Pilipino and English) aptly titled “Kung Ako’y Isa” (If I Were). It is a poetic prose using the voice of Sandy. Excerpts from the book (written by Heidi Emily Eusebio-Abad):
Illustrated children’s book Kung Ako’y Isa using Sandy’s voice
If I were a river, I’d flow through the creeks and canals of the city
If I were the Earth, I’d cover all gardens with lemongrass and citronella
If I were the warm wind, I’d breeze through stale spaces
And dark corners of our home
If I were a burst of flame, I’d smoke out all these pests lurking in the yard
If I were a child with dreams to live in a bright paradise of colors, I’d avoid getting sick or falling ill. My first defense – A clean environment
From Kung Ako’y Isa
From Kung Ako’y Isa
Never underestimate the tiny mosquito.
One bite is all it takes.
It’s not just the itch.
What you first thought was fever
Could turn out to be dengue.
Sometimes it gets worse.
The worst of it all.
Is it could kill you.
That was my fate,
For, once, I was a child.
Now, just a memory
Kept alive by this advocacy.
My name is Sandy.
Just a speck in this world.
But this grain of sand joins others
To form an endless shore.
From Kung Ako’y Isa
From Kung Ako’y Isa
Grief has no timeline. The pain comes and goes but never goes away for Sandy’s mom and two brothers. But her death 12 years ago is a candle in the dark as Peaches continues her mission to prevent Dengue. She hopes that the story of Sandy can save the lives of other children, and that her desperation as a mother losing a child can spark hope so others won’t need to suffer the same tragedy.
“The Sandy Project is also my humble Thanksgiving to God for the blessing of 10 happy years with my wonderful daughter,” says Peaches, adding that her memories of Sandy included the image of a sprightly, smart and high-spirited young girl who loved giving hugs, liked music and was a fan of Taylor Swift and One Direction.
Prevention is the best defense in the battle against Dengue. For this reason Peaches is bent in introducing the “Dengue Police” as part of The Sandy Project action plan to empower children and adults to stay vigilant in patrolling their schools and neighborhoods for potential Dengue-related threats looming in the horizon.
Debbie | ws
Videos: The Sand y Project Spreading The Word | For Sandy From Sandy’s Friends | A Mother’s Grief Turned Into Advocacy | Kung Ako’y Isa (If I Were)
Reads more: Turning Grief Into Action | Vax Before Travel | DOH Anti-Dengue Campaign | Corner Magazine | The Manila Post |
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