By Juliet Labog-Javellana

On may 26 last year the camalig or hot o the Mahilum family went to fire. There were five children and no parents. Rhona the oldest, 8 years old, single handedly carried one by one her four brothers and sisters to safety. As she braved the flames, each time she got more and more burned. Finally, after saving the last child she collapsed, exhausted in pain. We recall her brave story form the Inquirer newspaper where she was given a special citation from the president.

According to accounts, she carried each of her siblings out of the house, and suffered burns on her back in the process. Her mother later found her unconscious in a field and walked for four hours to get her child to the town hospital.

Rhona’s citation red in part: “For saving the lives of her brothers and sisters in the said fire at the risk of losing her own life, she demonstrated the highest value anyone can place on human life by not fearing the prospect of her own death at a age when the futures holds so much promise.”

It said she was presented with the award “for displaying exceptional courage and bravery and strength of character and decisiveness in a situation which many people much older than herself would find daunting and for her singular act of unselfishness, heroism and for exemplary live of country that has earned the deepest respect and admiration of her countrymen and women”.

As the audience to its feet in tribute to Rhona she beamed and took the Plaque from Mr. Ramos as well as a huge symbolic P30, 000 check that went with it.

She constantly smiled and lovingly looked up to the President. Twice, she tugged at the President and to two made their little, private conversations. At one point, the First Couple took peep at her back with was severely burned.

Later, she disclosed what she and the President talked about.

“Sabi niya, Ingatan mo and sugat mo,” She recalled. “Sabi ko, yung sugat niya pagalingin niya rin ‘tsaka ingatan niya kasi mahal ko siya (He told me, take care of your wounds, I said, take care of your wounds, too, because I love him”

Mr. Ramos had a life-threatening carotid block removed in an operation recently. Like Rhona, he still has the scar, on his right neck.

When the Photo session ended and the President was busy shaking hands with her mother Nenita and caretakers at the social welfare department, Rhona tugged at the President again to kiss him goodbye.

Later, she told the reporters she was very happy at the attention given her, but she admitted she didn’t know what to do with her cash reward.

“Hindi ko po alam kasi maliit pa ako (I don’t know what to do because I’m still small) she said.

She said she wants to be a teacher.

When her extraordinary deed was known, Manila Mayor Alfredo Lim brought Rhona to mania for emergency treatment and rehabilitation.

Welfare Secretary Lina Laigo said the girl would undergo two more operations to remove the scar.

Lim declared the young girl an adopted child of Manila and set up a P 1- million trust fund for her. The senate also put up a similar trust fund. (PDI)