A 16-year-old student from Barangay Pinget, Baguio City, has been hailed for his heroic act of saving the life of a 64-year-old man who collapsed on a busy street on December 4.
Juan Carlos “JC” Sumbad, a student at the Special Education (SPED) Center of Easter College, performed first aid and cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) on the unconscious man, who was lying face down on the road. JC, who was heading home from school, immediately jumped off the back of a jeepney after noticing the situation.
“Ang akala ko po noong una ay lasing but when I checked his pulse ay it was weak na po, and that’s when I started CPR,” JC said in a video posted by the Baguio City Public Information Office.
He recounted how it was a busy street in Baguio, where no one seemed to notice until he shouted for help. JC conducted the FAST — Face, Arms, Speech, and Time — method to identify potential stroke symptoms before starting CPR.
Easter College expressed pride in JC’s actions through a social media post. “His inspiring deed reminds us of the power of compassion and service to others. Truly, an inspiration to us all,” the school said in a statement.
Meanwhile, Victor Chua, the son of the 64-year-old man, expressed profound gratitude for JC’s quick response. Medical responders informed him that his father would have passed away if not for JC’s timely action. Chua added, “I offered a cash reward, but he politely declined because he said kindness should be normalized.”
Baguio City Mayor Benjamin Magalong also commended JC, stating, “Your compassion and love for others is commendable and worth emulating. We hope that more youth will follow your lead.”
JC, however, believes that acts of kindness should be a norm. “Kindness is free, and it should empower us. Kindness should not be an extraordinary act but should be a simple day-to-day act,” he explained.
