BY: CHARLES NIKKO LIMON
At a young age, helping others comes naturally to JC, who has always been eager to learn new skills.
Despite his disability, he has learned how to perform CPR, or cardiopulmonary resuscitation.
But he never imagined that this knowledge would one day save someone’s life.
On December 4, JC managed to save the life of a 64-year-old man who had a heart attack.
Juan Carlos Sumbad, narrated, “At first, I thought he was just drunk or in need, and when I checked, his pulse was already very weak. That’s when I started CPR.”
Initially, JC doubted if he could do it correctly, but he mustered the courage to act.
“Actually, I applied three rounds. Because of COVID-19, mouth-to-mouth is no longer allowed, so we used the method where you continue compressions until 100. I did three rounds before the EMS arrived,” he added.
JC’s family was surprised by his bravery, but this wasn’t the first time he had saved someone’s life.
According to Heaven Clarrisse Batara Alonzo, JC’s Sister, “Even when he was young, he was already like this, he loved to help. Actually, when I was in high school, and he was still in elementary, one of his friends had an epilepsy attack, and he was the one who brought him to the hospital.”
His school is equally proud of him.
“We are very happy, of course, especially because this act of compassion and action is one of our core values at Easter College. It shows how our teaching of these values is truly making an impact,” said Dr. Cleofe Kollin, President of the Easter College.
During the weekly flag-raising ceremony, the Baguio City government formally recognized JC for his heroic act.
Despite this recognition, JC calls on everyone to be more helpful to others.
“It’s sad that this happened on a busy street with many people, yet no one noticed. Kindness is free, and it is not an extraordinary act but something we can do daily,” JC stated.
According to Rafael Valencia, a 911 on-call responder, immediate CPR is crucial for those suffering from heart attacks.
According to Rafael Valencia, 911 On-Call Responder, “When you compress, the blood circulates through all the body systems. It’s important to act as soon as the person collapses and shows no pulse or breathing. Early CPR increases the chances of survival significantly.”
The family of the 64-year-old man JC helped has expressed their gratitude to him.
The man is now scheduled for a bypass operation at the Philippine Heart Center in Quezon City.
