BACOLOD CITY?THE SIX-year-old child from Sipalay City who saved her four-month-old brother from a fire has been transferred to the burn unit of the Teresita Jalandoni Provincial Hospital in Silay City because her wounds have developed infections.

Virginia Rojo had been treated at the Sipalay Infirmary after the upper half of her face and hands suffered second degree burns when she saved her baby brother, Joren, from a fire that destroyed their house in Barangay San Jose, Sipalay City on Feb. 28.

Scars

Dr. Francis Hinayan of the provincial hospital said the burnt areas of the child?s body were being cleaned to prevent infection. These burns were expected to leave scars on Rojo.

Rojo earlier said Papa Jesus woke her up and told her to save her brother from the fire, as her mother and older sister were not in the house at the time.

Rojo has since been hailed as a heroine, especially by her neighbors, and numerous donations and offers of help have been made to her and her family.

Sagay City Mayor Alfredo Marañon, who is running for governor of Negros Occidental, has promised a full scholarship from elementary to college for the Sipalay child heroine.

Real courage

?What Virginia showed was real courage,? said Marañon who turned over P10,000 to help in the medical expenses of the child.

Marañon assured Rojo?s family that he would personally provide a full scholarship for Virginia and livelihood assistance for her mother who earns a living washing clothes.

Marañon also urged Negrenses to help the child who would have to undergo surgical procedures to repair the damage on her face.

He expressed hope that Virginia?s act of courage would ?inspire all of us to have moral courage.?

?We need to strengthen the moral fiber of our society and I hope, through Virginia?s story, we will all be inspired,? Marañon said.

Numerous readers have also called Inquirer to offer help to Rojo [Inquiries may be made at the Inquirer bureau at phone numbers 032-416-0147 and 032-491-4508].