WATCH: ‘Go Malasakit’ TV show features heroic burn victim

MANILA, Philippines — “Go Malasakit,” a Radyo Inquirer 990 public service TV program, recently featured 44-year-old driver Elino Palicte of Sitio Tayud, Barangay Basak Pardo, Cebu City, for his heroic act.

Palicte saved his one-month-old daughter, Engel Lenn, from a fire that hit his house on Oct. 7, 2019.

Palicte was cooking rice when he suddenly heard an explosion.

It turned out that the stove exploded.

He and his wife rushed out to safety — only to realize that their daughter was still inside.

“Binalikan ko agad ang anak ko na nasa kwarto namin,” he said.

[I went back in to get my daughter in our room.]

And then he tried to put out the fire.

“Pero nawalan na ako ng malay. Hindi ako makahinga. Paggising ko nasa ospital na ako,” Palicte said.

[But I passed out. I couldn’t breathe. When I woke up, I was already in the hospital.]

Palicte was relieved to learn that his daughter was safe.

But he himself had third-degree burns on his face, body and knees.

“Nagpapagaling na lang ako ngayon. Sabi ng doctor baka next week makalabas na ako. Gusto ko nang makalabas para makabalik sa trabaho,” said the jeepney driver Palicte.

[I’m recuperating now. The doctor said I might be able to get out next week. I want to get out so I can return to work.]

He said his other children were still studying.

“Nag-aalala rin ako sa bill ko baka malaki na,” he added.

[I’m also worried that my bills here are big now.]

But Palicte’s case was taken over by Malasakit Center, the one-stop health care shop project of Sen. Christopher ‘Bong’ Go.

The Malasakit Center simplifies the process of giving medical assistance to the Filipinos confined in government hospitals.

Palicte’s story was featured on “Go Malasakit,” which airs over Radyo Inquirer 990 AM and Inquirer 990 TV on Digibox every Thursday, from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m.

The show is anchored by Chona Yu and Assistant Secretary Jonjie Gonzales of the Office of the Presidential Assistant for the Visayas.

Viewers may call Inquirer 990 TV’s live hotline 519-1876 during the program for information. Social media audiences may also comment on INQUIRER.net’s Facebook live.

/atm