BACOLOD CITY, March 10 — Heroism gets rewarded as more aid pours for six-year-old Virginia Rojo, who suffered second degree burns when she saved her four-month old brother from the fire that razed their house in Brgy. San Jose, Sipalay City recently.
Sagay City Mayor Alfredo Marañon promised full scholarship from elementary to college for the Sipalay child heroine.
Marañon said Rojo’s heroic act reminded him of Rona Mahilum from Divina Colonia, Sagay City whose “selfless act” gained her national and international recognition.
Similarly, Mahilum suffered burns when she went back to save her five other siblings from a fire that destroyed their house in Sagay in May 1996.
“What Virginia showed was real courage,” said Marañon who along with Rep. Genaro Alvarez also turned over P10,000 in financial assistance to help in the medical expense of the child who was transferred Tuesday to the Burn Unit of the Teresita Jalandoni Provincial Hospital in Silay City.
Marañon also assured Rojo’s family that he will personally provide full scholarship for Virginia and in addition, livelihood for her mother who earns a living washing clothes.
The mayor also urged Negrenses to help the child who will undergo skin graft for her face.
“Virginia showed physical courage,” Marañon said, but beyond that, he is hoping that the child’s act will “inspire all of us to have moral courage,” adding that at the state our country is in, “we need to strengthen the moral fiber of our society and I hope through Virginia’s story, we will all be inspired to do selfless acts.” (PNA)
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