An overseas Filipino worker (OFW) from San Pablo City, Laguna who saved a three-month-old baby at the deadly Hong Kong fire last November has safely returned to the Philippines.
President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos, Jr. himself welcomed Rhodora Alcaraz-Toñacao on her arrival at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 3 last December 16.
Marcos, who led the inauguration of the NAIA transit tours and medical tourism lounge, cited Alcaraz for her extraordinary courage and selflessness.
“Sa kabila ng panganib na kanyang hinarap ay pinili niyang iligtas ang sanggol na kanyang inaalagaan. Pinapakita nito ang likas na malasakit ng Pilipino sa kanyang kapwa," he said.
Alcaraz was hailed as one of the heroes of the massive fire inside the Wang Fuk Court residential complex in Tai Po, Hong Kong last November 26, in which at least 160 persons were killed.
Instead of fleeing for her own safety, Alcaraz, who just arrived in Hong Kong the day before the fire broke out, bravely stayed inside the burning apartment, held the baby tightly in a wet blanket, and used her own body as a shield against fire and smoke.
She and the baby were miraculously saved by firefighters hours later.
However, due to the injuries incurred, Alcaraz was treated in an intensive care unit in a hospital.
On December 2, Migrant Workers Secretary Hans Leo Cacdac and Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) Chief Patricia Yvonne Caunan visited Alcaraz at the hospital, where she was declared in a stable condition, and extended government support.
OWWA officials also assisted Alcaraz and her siblings in returning home to Laguna.
(With report from PNA)
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