MANILA, Philippines - A Filipino who died saving 50 people from drowning in the deadly onslaught of storm “Ondoy” (Ketsana) in September is one of Time Magazine’s Top 10 heroes this year, news site gmanews.tv reported.
The international current affairs magazine cited the bravery and selflessness of 18-year-old Muelmar Magallanes, who defied raging floodwaters to bring neighbors and relatives to higher ground.
On his last attempt to save a neighbor, a wall collapsed on him, and a television fell on his head, killing him instantly.
Barangay Bagong Silangan was among the most submerged communities when Ondoy brought record rainfall to three fourths of the nation’s capital.
“By the time the storm had unleashed its full fury, bringing the worst rains the region had seen in more than 40 years, Magallanes had changed the lives of dozens of family members and neighbors – and lost his own,” TIME said in its citation.