Muelmar Magallanes is One of Time Magazine's Top 10 Heroes of 2009

The heroic boy Muelmar "Toto" Magallanes has been named one of The Top 10 Heroes of 2009 by Time Magazine in its website. During the wrath of tropical storm Ondoy (Storm Ketsana) on September 26, 2009, Muelmar Magallanes saved more than thirty people from being drowned by the worst deluge in Philippine history, sacrificing his own life in the process. Muelmar has also been honored by the Philippine Senate as well as many other non-government organizations.

When I first heard of Muelmar's heroism in the first day after the disaster, I decided to write his story in my blog. Despite the floods in the metro, I have been fortunate to locate his family in the public gymnasium of Barangay Bagong Silangan in Quezon City--a place that has been hard hit by the deluge. I interviewed Muelmar's parents and siblings, his friends and many of the people that he saved. I also went to his funeral and burial, where I witnessed many important personalities (including former President Joseph Estrada), giving eulogies and honors to Muelmar.

Muelmar Magallanes came from a very poor family who migrated to Manila to escape the hard-life of sugar farming in Negros Occidental. His parents, Mang Samuel and Aling Maria Luz, had to borrow money to pay for their bus fare to Manila. Mang Samuel had to work as a carpenter in many construction sites in Manila to support his family. Muelmar, meanwhile, had to stop schooling to be an apprentice to his father. When he grew a little older, he became a peon in construction works.

Muelmar was known as a shy boy. Even at the age of eighteen, he never had a girlfriend, contenting to keep his emotions to himself. His only joy in life was to play with his nephews and nieces, and in times when there was no work, to play basketball in the neighborhood. He was also known as the clown in the family, his little sisters becoming the target of his brotherly tease.

Before his death, Muelmar told his mother Aling Maria Luz, that someday he would be successful and he would try his best to alleviate the family's poverty. But the terrible day of September 26 changed everything. Indeed, for Muelmar's family, nothing will ever be the same again. During the deluge, Muelmar, a powerful swimmer, decided to evacuate whole families from crumbling houses, until a solid wall of concrete ended his life. But not before he saved more than thirty people from drowning--babies, mothers, grandmothers, even older men.

When Muelmar's lifeless body was found the morning of the disaster, the people he saved made a pilgrimage to his remains, bringing lighted candles and flowers, as tribute to their valiant hero. But Muelmar was already cold and stiff in the white box that has been donated by the city government. The family has also been assured by the government that Muelmar will be buried for free--as with the other 28 people in the barangay who perished in the flood.

When I went to Muelmar's funeral, and saw his bruised face inside the coffin, I became speechless, not knowing how to assuage the grief of the family he left behind. Indeed, in times like this, only the heart speaks, as the words are drowned by emotions. But here was Muelmar's mother, in grief, looking at the lifeless body of his heroic child. And all I could do was to assure her that I would spread the word of his son's gallantry, and that no matter what society has taught us, people like her son, should always be a source of inspiration to all of us. In the end, not only thirty people benefited from Muelmar's heroism, but the entire humanity, as we have all been blessed because of people like him.

*For my original article and photographs on Muelmar Magallanes, please click here.There are many people who emailed me if I know the address of Muelmar's family. You can reach them at Calamiong, Barangay Bagong Silangan, Quezon City, or through the cellphone of Muelmar's oldest brother Joefran at 09216475584.