leafdance: 2009

10. Muelmar Magallanes
By Krista Mahr
TIME Magazine

When Tropical Storm Ketsana hit Manila on a Saturday in late September, Muelmar Magallanes didn't do much. Like most residents of the Philippines' capital, the 18-year-old construction worker was used to heavy rains pelting the city. But by the time the storm had unleashed its full fury, bringing the worst rains the region had seen in more than 40 years, Magallanes had changed the lives of dozens of family members and neighbors — and lost his own. After hearing that a nearby river had jumped its banks, Magallanes helped move his family to higher ground as water engulfed his village. Then he went back to do the same for some 30 neighbors. After helping a mother and her infant off a makeshift raft, an exhausted Magallanes was lost in the water, his body recovered the next day. "He gave his life for my baby," Menchie Penalosa, the child's mother, told Agence France-Presse. "I will never forget his sacrifice."

Hero got in death what he dreamed of in life
By Edson C. Tandoc Jr.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

MANILA, Philippines—In death, Muelmar Magallanes gave to his family what he had dreamed of in life—a sturdy, concrete house to replace their wobbly, wooden shanty that was swept away during the great flood spawned by Tropical Storm “Ondoy” (international codename: Ketsana).

Magallanes died after saving the lives of 30 of his family and neighbors in Barangay Bagong Silangan in Quezon City during the Sept. 26 flood.

Tales of his heroism spread and donations started pouring in. His parents used the funds to rebuild their home. But his mother Luz finds it difficult to rebuild their lives.

“Is this what you promised me?” she said in Filipino, addressing her son's framed picture hanging on a wall. “I wish we never lost you.”

Although she is not blaming anyone, she has one regret. She never got a chance to talk one last time with her son, whom she fondly called “Toto.”

International publication Time magazine recently honored Magallanes as one of its top 10 heroes for 2009.

He joins the ranks of Capt. Chesley (Sully) Sullenberger who saved the lives of 155 passengers aboard a US Airways Airbus A320 he landed in the Hudson River in New York City in January, and Neda Agha-Soltan who was shot near a clash between government supporters and opponents in Iran in June.

Magallanes, for his part, helped move his family to higher ground when a nearby river swelled and engulfed his village during Ondoy’s onslaught. Then he went back, swimming against the current, to save his neighbors. He swam from noon until midnight.

He was catching his breath when a shanty collapsed on the structure he was clinging to and he was lost.

The good son

The fourth of seven children, Magallanes stopped going to school after only a year in high school to help his father, Samuel, a construction worker.

When the family moved to Bagong Silangan in 2002, Magallanes also helped his father build a small house.

“Every time he saw me quiet, he would say, ‘Time will come when we would have a more comfortable life,’” Luz recalled, speaking in Filipino.

She would respond by saying that living in a small house was fine, as along as the family was together.

Always helping out

Luz said her son was the type who never refused people asking for his help.

Magallanes would always be out of the house, helping a neighbor fix equipment, carry luggage or buy materials.

That fateful Saturday, when floodwaters rose rapidly, neighbors called his name, asking for help.

“I told him to stay with us,” Luz said. The water had reached their old house’s upper floor and he rescued his year-old nephew Justin and 2-year-old niece Joemhaica. He also helped his siblings and parents swim to the main road, where the water level was still low.

Hearing their neighbors cry for help, Magallanes swam back to help. It was noontime. He continued to save his neighbors, swimming from one house to the next, until midnight.

Strong currents

Magallanes was a good swimmer. His pastime was playing basketball and swimming in the creek with his friends, recalled his father Samuel, 49.

When some of his friends, who were also helping rescue neighbors, suggested they rest because they were already feeling cold, Magallanes told them to go on ahead without him.

He continued saving people, until he decided, shortly after midnight that fateful Saturday, to rest for a few minutes by clinging to a house.

He had promised two familes that he would return to save them, but strong currents knocked down a shanty, which fell on the house he was holding onto. The impact caused a concrete wall to collapse. Chunks of the wall and a television set pinned him down.

No answer

After the flood subsided, Luz and Samuel went back to their house hoping to find Magallanes there. They called their son’s name several times, asking him to come home. There was no answer.

They found his body the following day.

“I am not blaming anyone,” Luz said. “I am not blaming the people he saved. I am not blaming God.”

She added: “He is my son, but it was God who gave him his life.”

Luz said she was touched by the expressions of gratitude her family had received. Financial Donations allowed them to rebuild the house. It was being painted when the Philippine Daily Inquirer visited on Saturday.

In heaven

Still reeling from the loss of her son, Luz expressed one wish: That God give her the strength to move on.

She turned to her granddaughter Joemhaica and asked her to name the man in the framed photo, adorned by a medal that was awarded posthumously.

Joemhaica answered: “Tito (Uncle) Toto.”

Where is Tito Toto? Luz asked.

The 2-year-old replied: “Heaven.”