The Young Carpenter Hero of Bagong Silangan
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By Francis Pasion and JD Buena
His name came from “Samuel,” the name of his father and “Maria,” the name of his mother. The family lives in a place called Bagong Silangan near Batasan, Commonwealth. Being the fourth of the seven children of the Magallanes family, “Toto” as his family would call him, only finished 1st year High School and refused to continue because he wanted to help out in his family’s livelihood. At eight years old, he was already putting food on the table mainly through his tremendous help in his father’s livelihood. Like a Paciano to a Pepe, he also wanted to give his siblings a chance to have a better education. Instead of spending money on himself, he would spend it on his younger sister who wanted to become a doctor and the other siblings who have dreams of their own. The father, Mr. Samuel Magallanes is a construction worker while his mother Mrs. Maria Magallanes is a housewife.
When the team of Brown Raise went to the place where Muelmar’s remains were located in order to interview the family, we were so shocked to find out that the evacuation center where the people eat, drink and sleep and the coffins of the dead flood victims were all together under one covered basketball court . There were just three or four coffins when we arrived because according to our source, the other nine corpses have already been buried the other day. So you could just imagine how unthinkable it was if there were actually more coffins inside the already full-packed “evacuation center.” We know that this is a time of crisis and lack of decent conditions, but this should also be the best time to treat our fellow Filipinos with respect.
We first interviewed Muelmar’s mother. His mother would say that as a young boy Muelmar never asked her for money that exceeded two pesos. At times the mother would push Muelmar to accept the money but he would refuse it, saying he still has enough. Later on, the mother would find out that every midnight, Muelmar would consistenly work an extra mile by transporting the neighbor’s pig to its new owner so that he could earn money of his own. He wanted to stand on his own two feet and be able to actively help the dire needs of their poor family. Even then, at a young age, he already had a high sense of dignity and hardwork. People around him have noticed his uncanny ability to leave what he’s doing just to answer the needs of others. “May pagkapilyo, pero matulungin,” his mother would say. When his parents asked him to do something and he had a prior commitment to help a neighbor, he would prioritize the latter knowing that he is needed more by his neighbor than by his family.
The first time that the flood swept Bagong Silangan was in 2003. He saved many lives. Since he was an expert swimmer, his parents were at peace in seeing their son help other people. But little did they know that what would happen six years later would change their lives. From then on, Muelmar’s urge to help, gained more and more intensity in him as he found out that to help others without getting anything in return was really the best reward he could receive. He was also a constant confidant to his siblings especially to the older ones. Even if Muelmar was younger, His Kuya Jufran would recount that Muelmar was an inspiration to him. That fateful day of September 26, 2009 started like a normal rainy day. As people recount in Bagong Silangan, no one expected the rush of flood that would come sweeping the entire barangay without warning. Only fifteen minutes were needed and the flood with the murky mud it brought, paralyzed the entire barangay as many began to save their belongings in an ever increasing strong current. By 11:30 AM, the water already reached their windows. Muelmar seemed excited as his father asked his help to bring the family to safety. As his mother was the last person in the family he carried to safety, Muelmar suddenly said, “Ma, dito muna ako.” Suddenly his father asked him to carry the Orocan container and some clothes to the roof. This he did with ease, but then he walked away. His father said, “Saan ka pupunta? Tulungan mo muna ako dito.” But he seemed to not hear his father’s question as he already heard a cry of help from the back of their house—from a neighbor who couldn’t go down anymore and was trapped on the roof between the raging rapids of the flood. There was a 7-month-old baby with the neighbor. He used styrofoam as a plank so that the baby and the mother could hold on to something. The current was too strong and the baby accidentally slipped and sunk in the flood. Muelmar immediately plunged into the depths so that the baby could be saved. That was his first rescue.
Muelmar, with his eldest brother Jufran tied some bamboos together and made it a raft so that they could rescue other neighbors needing help. Muelmar would always, if need be, plunge into the depths of the murky water and swim against the current just to carry the bamboo raft to the next roof where neighbors waited for rescue. His arms were full of bruises from the floating yero. All in all he saved 7 families and a group of 18 children with their mothers trapped on the rooftops. It is safe to say that he saved even more than 30 people, contrary to the news reports. A young man, in the prime of his youth, already saving many lives! Muelmar, in his young age never forgot the heroism he longed for in childhood, of sacrificing his own life to save his neighbors. Witnesses say that in extreme exhaustion, he rested for awhile on a rooftop unaware that a hollow-block wall taken by the strong current of the flood came smashing towards him. He went missing until the flood subsided and his body was found covered by thick mud.
He was a hero in the midst of the storm. Mrs. Magallanes and the family are so proud of Muelmar’s heroic deeds. But during our interview, one of the cries of his mother’s heart was “pero kahit hindi na sya itratong hero… basta bigyan lang ng normal at tamang libing.” Mrs. Magallanes shared with us in tears that her son will be buried in layers of boxes that the government provided, and her son will be on top. “Mahirap, sa taas pa, ang taas taas” she adds. It was still bearable but her next statement was really heart-breaking. Mrs. Magallenes said “at pagkatapos ngthree years, tatanggalin na duon yung kanyang bankay… hindi na namin alam kung saan ilalagay…” I was shocked and said to myself “WHAT!?” In the news ontelevision and newspapers, he is being hailed as a hero but here’s how we treat our heroes! It’s really hard to understand. Mr. Magallanes went to his crying wife and put his hands on her shoulders to calm her. He shared that on their own they can’t afford to buy a cemetery lot for their son, but he’s still hoping and looking for one so that his son can have a normal and simple burial. Muelmar’s mother is not asking for celebratory gunfire, many flowers or a grand hero’s burial… just a simple burial, just a normal burial. Many would have cringed at losing their lives and houses, but Muelmar Magallanes courageously saved many without hesitation. It is a selfless act of a hero, so rare in our times in a person so young—18 years old—yet it shows what we Filipinos are truly really made of. The flood may have washed away homes, dreams and hundreds of lives, but it revealed the real gems of our country, the simple people, the insignificants—true heroes who do not long for acclaim but let their hearts be exposed to the strong currents of the flood to save lives at the expense of their own.
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October 6th, 2009 at 01:32 PM
ayan ang tunay na bayani hindi yung mga artista!!
bakit ba talaga ang gobyerno walang pakinabang..
gugustuhin nilang ilibing na hindi decent yung libing nung tao…sobra sila kung umasal..
muelmar ikaw ay ang tunay na bayani at hindi sila..
bigyan naman sana nila ikaw ng kahit simpleng paglibing tapos ayun 3 years after tatangalin nila coffin mo..hay grabe!!
dapat tayo mga kabataan tunay na maging pag-asa ng bayan..
nakakagalit at nakakalungkot…
basta ako sasama ako sa pag-papaangat ng bansa natin..
I’M PROUD TO BE PINOY!
October 6th, 2009 at 10:26 PM
rather than swarming those celebrities who were caught in the flood,why not give more attention on our poor kababayans plight? they lost not only their livelihood, shelter,namatayan din sila..they are the one’s na kailangan na maging center of attention. the celebrities can return to their muddy and dirty mansions and townhouses.pero yung mga kababayan natin may babalikan ba?a person with a clear understanding would put his effort on helping the needy and not on having a one on one interview with an artist just to share the limelight.
October 7th, 2009 at 04:47 AM
Saludo ako sa mga taong nagboboluntaryo magsilbi para sa kapakanan at kaligtasan ng ibang tao.. ‘There is no such BRAVER, than the heart of a VOLUNTEER’! Mabuhay ka, Muelbar!
October 7th, 2009 at 11:23 AM
The Philippines is really poor, plus the corrupt government makes us poorer. There’s no way out but to remove all those in position who are self-centered.
Mahirap din naman kc kung bguhan lahat at walang alam.
October 7th, 2009 at 03:29 PM
Sa mga nabalitaan kong pagkakaroon ng BAYANIHAN sa atin sa Pinas pagkatapos ng bagyong Ondoy, nakita ko ang potensyal ng ating mga kababayan na puwede naman palang iusad ang bansa natin kahit wala ang pangkasalukuyang administrasyon. Tutal bale wala naman sila eh, wala rin namang naging silbi dahil bising-bisi sila sa paghahanda para sa darating na halalan. Mayroon akong nakikitang maganda rito, may maliit na ilaw na maaaring lumaki pagdating ng tamang panahon. Maaaring madaliin ito tungo sa pagbabago o maaaring pabagalin. Nasa sa atin talaga kung seseryosohin mabuti. Sana magliyab pa ang apoy sa puso ng mga Pinoy at hindi lamang panandaliang magningas. MALAKI ANG POTENSYAL! MALAKI ANG PAG-ASA! MAAARING MAGBAGO!
October 7th, 2009 at 08:06 PM
Ito ‘yung totoong Pilipino. Walang ibang katulad ang taong ‘to. Karapatdapat ikarangal ang tulad ni Muelmar. Buhay na ang ibinigay niya at hindi siya deserving sa ganun na burial. GOD PROVIDES. NOTHING IS IMPOSSIBLE. Kaya naniniwala ako na mabibigyan siya ng decent na burial.
Muelmar will remain in my heart and I will tell the whole world the great things you have done.
October 8th, 2009 at 02:37 AM
I agree Mr. Brown Boy Roy. there is always a rainbow after the rain somewhere during the day and there are stars after the storm somewhere during the night!
October 8th, 2009 at 04:50 PM
Sir Muelmar salamat sa yo, maraming salamat sa kabayanihan mo. Sana dumami ang katulad mo.
October 10th, 2009 at 01:38 AM
There is hope for the Philippines. I see the tide turning, with all kinds of people doing their best to contribute towards the victims of this calamity.
We need to make sure that this young hero, and others will not be forgotten. The wishes of his mother and family will be taken care of. Muellmar will have his remains in a private plot so that his family (and admirers) can visit in the future.
Let’s make that happen – PLEASE.
I ask that those of us in PI make sure to get their family’s address so we can start a drive to raise funds for that purpose. I have a group here that will pledge towards this endeavor. That’s the least we can do for our new hero.
October 10th, 2009 at 10:14 AM
He would care less though about how his corpse is treated. We cannot do much about that issue. Let us focus instead on his dreams, his goals. That principle he died for.
It was to help those in need regardless of our situation. Anyone can help, everyone has the power to do so.
He would rather have the birth of thousands of heroes because of his death than having a fuss over his funeral rites.
October 11th, 2009 at 12:26 AM
dito natin ipinakita na tayong mga pilipino ay may likas na matulungin dangan nga lamang at nababahiran ng maruruming politiko kaya sana magsilbing aral na sa atin ang nakaraang sakuna.mabuhay at magkaisa na tayong mga pilipino at simulan ang pagbabago.
October 11th, 2009 at 03:40 PM
this is the true filipino!
ito ang kailangan ng ating bansa!
October 11th, 2009 at 05:00 PM
sana nga ay mabigay natin ang lahat ng respeto sa kaniya. sigurado na ang mga taong natulungan niya ay di siya makakalimutan talagang ganito nga ang mga pilipino: matatag at matulungin. ngunit mabibigay pa ba natin ito pagdating ng hirap tulad ni muellmar? si muellmar ay totoong pilipino. sana maunawaan nating lahat na tayo ay pilipinong tulad niya. magagamit natin ito para maiangat natin ang ating bansa!!!
October 11th, 2009 at 08:33 PM
mabuhay ka, Muelmar. You are truly an inspiration.
October 12th, 2009 at 01:55 AM
A story like this should move us to continue fighting for our country. If a simple young man like Muelmar can make a difference, inspiring many young Filipinos. We too can make a difference wherever we are. As long as we take ownership of this country and take pride of who we are.
October 13th, 2009 at 09:44 AM
This story is a great encouragement for us to be serious in helping and touching lives of poor people in our country.
October 13th, 2009 at 01:56 PM
wow. . .amazing story of people that will not be recognize by those who didn’t know them heroes behind those calamity. . .heroes that will die with out recognition. . .heroes that didn’t exist in this world. . .but heroes in the heart of there family and to those people that surrounds them…
October 14th, 2009 at 09:31 AM
Hearing and reading this story makes me realize that indeed our nation has hope, that it’s not yet too late. Magtulungan po tayo. Kudos to Muelmar!
October 14th, 2009 at 12:16 PM
Grabe… panalo si Muelmar kahit construction worker lang siya…
meron siyang puso para sa kanyang mga kababayan..
yan ang BAYANI…kinakalimutan ang sarili para sa iba…
October 14th, 2009 at 05:33 PM
thats a true hero!!!!
October 15th, 2009 at 11:23 AM
GOD Bless you and your family Toto. you’re the real hero.
October 15th, 2009 at 03:11 PM
Muelmar Magallanes: Bayani
Sa gitna ng kawalang pag-asa, sa udyok ng busilak na loob
Walang pag-aalinlangan sa layong tumulong at maglingkod
Ang bayani ay mapagpasyang tumutugon
sa naghuhumiyaw na tawag ng panahon.
Paano bang ang pagsagip sa sanggol na walang malay,
Ang huling pagtulong sa paulit-ulit na pagkampay
Ay magwawakas lamang sa pag-angkin ng buhay
Ng bayaning pagal ang katawan at sa anod ay matangay?
Paano bang sa gitna ng delubyo, ay naghahanap ng vino
upang magpakalasing ng todo si Mikey Arroyo?
Paano bang tatawaging pagtulong ang pakitang-tao
Ng mga nagkakait nito habang ligtas silang naghihilik sa palasyo?
Muelmar Magallanes, labingwalong taong gulang
Tagapagligtas ng tatlumpong nilalang
Babae, lalaki, matanda at bata
Na tinangay ng rumaragasang agos ng tubig-baha.
Bayani kang sa anakpawis ay nagmula
Sa lupit ng sakuna, panganib ay di inalintana
Sa lipunang walang katarungan ika’y halimbawa
Ng lakas at pag-asang sagipin ang bansa.
*Sa alaala ni Muelmar Magallanes, 18, namatay matapos sagipin ang 30 biktima ng baha noong ika-28 ng Setyembre 2009. ( In memory of Muelmar Magallanes, 18, who died after saving 30 lives during a flood on 28 september 2009)
October 15th, 2009 at 06:28 PM
Astig naman ni meulmar!!!
kaya ko kaya maging katulad niya?
October 15th, 2009 at 06:29 PM
awsome MUELMAR ROCKS!!!!!!!!!!
WHO!!!!!!!!!!!!!
October 15th, 2009 at 06:29 PM
thats a true hero!!!
October 17th, 2009 at 11:47 AM
Dahil sa kanyang kabayanihan, patuloy siyang mabubuhay sa buhay ng mga iniligtas niya..at sa mga pamilya nila. Tiyak di malilimot ang kanyang katapangan at sakripisyo. But I am certain that Muelmar never saw it as a ” sacrifice”.I can bet that heroism was not his goal. He was just innately bigger than life, courageous,unselfish … marks of a true hero. Sana tularan siya…mga kabataan,heads up!
October 17th, 2009 at 02:48 PM
Meulmar may not be a rich or a famous person, but what he did for 32 lives is greater than those people who are rich and famous but do not help others….. Muelmar Magallanes is a true hero!
October 17th, 2009 at 07:34 PM
hi!
his story is very inspiring, indeed… may i ask where can i get in touch with his family? I want to interview them for my final project in my masters degree in environmental communication.
thanks!
October 18th, 2009 at 02:09 PM
Si Meulmar ay tunay na bayani pero ang mga artista ay hindi mga bayani kundi walang kuwenta. I AM PROUD TO BE PINOY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
October 18th, 2009 at 02:12 PM
MUELMAR ROCKS FOR REAL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
October 18th, 2009 at 07:55 PM
Yaan ang sobrang matinding bayani na kailangan ng ating bansa. Bayaning walang takot mamatay at ang misyon lamang ay matulungan lamang ang kailangan ng tulong. sana tayo mismo ay wag matakot at wag intindihin ang sasabihin ng iba, sana intindihin lang natin ang mas mabuting pamamaraan sa pag tulong sa ating mga kakababayan.
Sulong lamang mga lahing Kayumanggi. Iangat ating lahi para sa ating Bansa.
parin sa hinaharap.
October 19th, 2009 at 05:45 PM
magbubunga rin ang dugo na sinakripisyo mo Muelmar! mabuhay ka! ^^ AWIT NG KAAAAABATAAN!!!
kahit karpintero ka lang, mas mayaman ka pa sa pinaka-mayaman na taong nabubuhay sa panahon natin ngayon!
WOOOOOO!!!!
October 20th, 2009 at 05:38 AM
Swerte ng Nanay nya, may anak syang naging bayani. I just hope the youth of today in the Philippines will learn from his life, hindi puro gimmick lang ang alam. Unfortunately, there are some people who capitalized typhoon Ondoy. Many people who were in the evacuation center does not want to leave the center anymore. Kasi nga naman daming nagbibigay ng grocery bag, they dont need to go to work anymore. So again, paano ba mababago ang takbo ng buhay sa Pilipinas. Not to mention the election is coming and so many politicians are using and capitalizing poor people again. Pls, to all the readers of this blog, pls dont forget to pray for our country and it’s people. We dont need CHACHA as Charter change but we need CHACHA as CHARACTER CHANGE.
October 25th, 2009 at 02:38 AM
sana matauhan naman kahit konti ang mga lider natin..na hindi lang “pakikipagkamay” at mga “ngiti” ang kailangan ng mga Pilipino ngunit kabayanihan na ipinakita ni Muelmar…hindi lang puro SALITA ngunit may GAWA…
October 25th, 2009 at 10:42 PM
awesome
October 29th, 2009 at 09:26 PM
That’s a real hero. Not Richard Gutierrez!
November 10th, 2009 at 07:38 PM
mwellmar is a true hero kaesa sa mga artista!
November 11th, 2009 at 12:48 AM
I’m currently working abroad with OFWs, and Muelmar’s story is continually inspiring the Young Pinoys who were born and raised abroad. His sacrifice is teaching a new generation of Pinoys what it truly means to be a Filipino. Let the seed of his fallen life bring forth a new beginning among the second generation living overseas! Thanks BrownRaise!!!
November 27th, 2009 at 08:58 AM
Napaka-inspiring ng kwento ng kabayanihan ni Muelmar. Isa nga siyang tunay na HERO. Hindi ko makakalimutan ang kanyang istorya.
December 2nd, 2009 at 08:00 PM
i love this story grabe…
nakakagaan ng loob
very inspiring…
sana marami pa ang kagaya ni kuya
Muelmar…
December 31st, 2009 at 06:15 AM
Mabuhay ka, Muelmar. You are truly an inspiration.
January 16th, 2010 at 10:20 PM
Anthony corbilla
Dear our heroes,
Thank you for helping our country rise from dark side.Dont worry some day i `ll be also like you help country even I`ll go to america,when I grow up i`ll comeback here to unite us and change Tondo into a museum.Thank you for the writers We`ll miss you
Joshua corbilla
January 16th, 2010 at 10:40 PM
Muelmar isang pag-asa
na di mababasa
Isang bituin
sa talang madilim
Maraming sidang lumalangoy
ngunit bakit ang iba ay tinataboy?
isang magaling na guro
bakit ang iba`y mali ang tinuturo
Isang dagat na mayaman
isa lang palang paliguan
Marami tayong ginto
pero bakit ganito
Pinatay ang sa balita
nalunod ang sa radyo
tayo`y tinubos
ngunit unting-unti inuubos
maraming salamat po kay Bb. Cavalida na tinuro niya sa amin kung panu gumawa ng tula.Ito`y pang habang buhay saakin
January 21st, 2010 at 06:44 PM
yan ang tunay na pilipino!a true real hero!!!!!you can always count on muelmar!he is more than a megastar!
he is so cool!he knows true sacrifice and he loves to help others!i wish i coul be like him!!!totoong pilipino yan!wwwooooohhooooo!!!you rock muelmar!!!!!maraming salamat kay teacher francis pasion(one who made this article and is my advisor) and thanks to teacher mary (our pe teacher) for teaching 4-a about dangal!you rock!!!
January 21st, 2010 at 06:47 PM
god bless this website to help raise up our country and to find hidden REAL heroes of our philippines!
February 15th, 2010 at 09:54 AM
paano ba maging bayani sa loob ng bahay,labas ng bahay sa paaralan ,sa trabaho, sa mga mahal sa buhay,sa kapaligiran, saloob ng sasakyan,sa kapitbahay….eto ang mga tanong na aking sinisiyasat sa aking puso at isip pwede ba akong maging bayani???