Cebu City (CNN Philippines, February 6) — The Cebu City Police Office gave recognition Monday to two nursing students for their “heroic deeds” that helped save a victim of a slashing incident in downtown Cebu City last week.
Angyl Faith Ababat and Kristianne Joice Noelle Ona, both second year nursing students at the University of Cebu, said their lives changed after coming to the aid of fruit vendor Bernadeta Zamora.
“It is overwhelming and we are blessed to be recognized. Makagaan gyud sa feeling nga nakatabang mi,” said Ababat.
[Translation: It feels good that we were able to help.]
“We just helped. It is our (only) intention to help. Wala gyud mi naka-think nga ingon ani nga recognition among madawat. So a big thank pud,” said Ona.
[Translation: We just helped. It is our (only) intention to help. We never thought we would get this kind of recognition. So it is a big deal.]
Both said they feel pressure now as many are already looking up to them as role models.
Apart from all the recognition, Ababat said she is planning to visit “Nanay Bernadeta” at the hospital as they never really got to know her after the incident.
Zamora is still in the intensive care unit and not yet accepting visitors.
Last January 30, Zamora was selling fruits in one of the busy streets in downtown Cebu City when her live-in partner Edwin Lumacad armed himself with a knife and slashed the throat of Zamora.
A bleeding Zamora caught the attention of nearby students who were just buying school supplies. It was Ababat who first approached Zamora to help and later on Ona joined to assist the vendor until an ambulance arrived.
Surveillance video caught the entire incident, and it is making the rounds on social media.
After the recognition rites at the Cebu City Police Office, both nursing students went to the Cebu City Hall where they met Cebu City Councilor Rey Gealon who also gave them plaques of appreciation and other gifts.
Gealon said that both were given scholarship grants for a six-month caregiving course. The councilor also gave each of them stethoscopes and sphygmomanometers which they can use in continuing their nursing studies.
