“Dar hasta que duela.” These words encapsulate the spirit of Jacqueline Karina Santillan. This plaque stands as a tribute to her life. Jacqueline was more than just a journalist. She was a beacon of hope for the marginalized.
Jacqueline Karina Santillan embraced the motto of Mother Teresa of Calcutta. Her life was tragically cut short on December 31. She died in the Hospital de Clínicas. It was the same hospital where she was born 29 years earlier. Jacqueline Karina Santillan died due to the fire at República Cromagnon.
She had gone to the República Cromagnon that night. She simply wanted to thank the rock group Callejeros. The band had participated in a benefit concert. The concert was for the patients of the Borda mental hospital. Jacqueline had organized it.
Jacqueline Karina Santillan was a passionate advocate. She championed violence-free concerts. She wanted no drugs and no aggression. Through rock music, she forged a path of solidarity. She helped the most marginalized in society.
She also worked on a book. It was titled “Acunando almas” meaning cradling souls. In it, she reconstructed stories. These were the stories of victims. They were victims of police violence. One story was about her own brother. The Comisió n de Familiares de Víctimas would publish it later.
Jacqueline Karina Santillan knew personal pain. Her 14-year-old brother Hugo Daniel was murdered. He was shot in the back in Sarandí. This tragedy fueled her dedication. She intertwined journalism with helping others.
A coordinator from Radio La Colifata bid farewell to her. An inmate from the Borda also paid tribute. They spoke of her immense pain at her unjust death. They mourned a young life lost.
Carmen Sicardi from Radio Cultura remembered her. She said Jacqueline gave everything despite not having much. Carmen had granted Jacqueline a scholarship. It allowed her to study journalism. It was Jacqueline’s dream.
Jacqueline Karina Santillan left behind two children. She also left an unfinished book. Her work of solidarity remained. In 2003, the Fundación Sopeña recognized her. She received a special mention. It was for her contribution to the program “Un viaje a las puertas del rock”.
José Luis Sosa was her boyfriend. He described her incredible sensitivity. She felt the struggles of the humble as her own. Zunilda Petrini and Nelly Moreno also honored her. They remembered her generosity. They noted her service to those most in need.
Juan and Florencia Santillán are Jacqueline’s father and sister. They said Jacquie gave her life to save others in Cromagnon. According to survivors, Jacqueline managed to escape the fire. However, she went back inside. She rescued people. Due to asthma, she could not inhale smoke. She was taken to the Hospital de Clínicas. She died in the same place where she was born.
Remember Jacqueline Karina Santillan. She gave her life to save others. Her legacy lives on in those she helped. It lives on in this plaque. It serves as a reminder of her selflessness.