Angyl Faith Ababat and Kristianne Joice Noelle Ona, both sophomore nursing students at the University of Cebu, receive plaques of appreciation and other gifts from Cebu City Councilor Rey Gealon on Monday, Feb. 6, 2023. (Photo by DALE ISRAEL / Inquirer Visayas)
CEBU CITY, Cebu, Philippines — The city government and police here recognized on Monday, Feb. 6, two nursing students who helped a 58-year-old fruit vendor whose throat was slashed by her live-in partner last Jan. 30.
Angyl Faith Ababat and Kristianne Joice Noelle Ona, both second-year nursing students at the University of Cebu, were lauded by the Cebu City Police Office for their “heroic deeds.”
They were also recognized by the Cebu City government, led by Councilor Rey Gealon who also gave them plaques of appreciation and other gifts.
Gealon said Ababat and Ona were given scholarship grants for a six-month course on caregiving. The Cebu City councilor also gave them stethoscopes and sphygmomanometers for use in their studies.
“It is overwhelming and we are blessed to be recognized. Helping someone really brings joy,” Ababat said.
Ona shared the same sentiments.
“We just helped. It is our intention to help. We never thought that we would get this kind of recognition,” she said.
Ababat said she was planning to visit “Nanay Bernadeta” — that is, Bernadeta Zamora, who remained at the intensive care unit and was not accepting visitors yet.
Zamora was selling fruits on Plaridel Street in Cebu City last Jan. 30 when her live-in partner, Edwin Lumacad, suddenly slashed her neck following a heated altercation.
Lumacada tried to escape, but bystanders managed to catch up with him.
The suspect is facing frustrated murder charges under the Anti-Violence against Women and their Children Act of 2004 (Republic Act 9262).