Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart,
as working for the Lord, not for men.
Colossians 3:23
They are heroes. And they are Filipinos!
Sajid Bulig
On July 2, 1993, a pagoda carrying hundreds of Catholic devotees during
the annual pagoda festival in Bocaue, Bulacan sank into the muddy Bocaue
River. About 279 people, including children, drowned in the incident.
One victim, Sajid Bulig, died a hero after saving four children out
of the river.
Aris Canoy Espinosa
On January 30, 1994, Aris Canoy Espinosa, a 13-year-old boy from Lanao
del Norte province, did something for his friends. A grenade on the
ground was about to explode near the children. Aris quickly jumped and
covered the grenade with his own body. The children were saved, thanks
to the sacrifice of Aris!
Rona Mahilum
On May 26, 1996, a fire broke out inside a house in Barangay Divina
Colonia, Sagay town, Negros Occidental province. Rona Mahilum, a young
girl, sustained third degree burns on her back. Despite the pain, she
rescued her five brothers and sisters out of the house on fire. Then
she tried to put out the fire with water from the nearby well. In 1997,
Rona was cited for her bravery and heroism. Amazing!
Chrisanta Seboc
On July 5, 1996, Chrisanta Seboc, a four-year girl from Barangay Sta.
Teresa in Jordan town, Guimaras province saved the lives of her three-year-old
sister and two-year-old brother from fire which engulfed their house
at a time their parents were away for work. She was about to rescue
another sister, an infant, when her neighbors stopped her from going
into the house on fire. She cried because she could not help her.
Enteng Tagle
In its September 2002 issue, the Reader's Digest cited the heroics of
Enteng Tagle, who was ten years old when he saved the lives of his one-year-old
brother and eight-year-old playmate at the Payatas tragedy on July 12,
2000. Nearly 500 garbage scavengers who were living literally at the
Payatas dumpsite in Quezon City were buried alive under tons of garbage
when a 50-foot garbage mountain collapsed on their makeshift houses
at the height of torrential rains.
Agapito and Garcia
In the devastating earthquake that hit Luzon in June 1990, Florencio
Agapito and Robin Garcia of Cabanatuan City died helping their schoolmates
out of the Christian Colleges of the Philippines building that collapsed.
Cayabyab and Naga
In November 2002, President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo has recognized 15-year-old
Rico Cayabyab, 12-year-old Elorde Naga, and two adult fishermen of Paranaque
City for saving three survivors, including an Australian tourist, from
an airplane crash at the Manila Bay on November 11.
Godofredo Latoga
In 1985, Godofredo Latoga lost his life while rescuing his tour group
members from a fire at the Pines Hotel.
Emilio Advincula
Emilio Advincula, a taxi driver, has been cited for his sheer honesty.
In 1996, his passenger, a Filipino expatriate, left jewelry amounting
to P2 million and several thousands of US dollars inside the car. Advincula
returned everything.
Ma. Fe Sotelo
Ma. Fe Sotelo, a security guard, achieved her dream of becoming a police
officer when the national police waived its height and age requirements
just for her. This was after she returned P500,000 to a Chinese businessman
who left his bag at the comfort room of the Festival Mall in Alabang
on January 7, 2003. The businessman tried to give her money as a reward
but the honest guard politely declined the offer. She said she did not
think twice about returning the money.
