Filipino teachers rescue elderly man while fleeing Maui wildfires

WASHINGTON DC — In the midst of the wildfires that swept through the heart of Lahaina in Hawaii, three Filipino teachers who have earlier been reported missing have emerged as heroes.

Teachers Heidee Gudao, Maria Christina Espina, and Angelic Gallario not only survived the wildfires but also went above and beyond by rescuing an elderly neighbor from possible harm.

"We found him carrying just a pillow and a flashlight," Gudao said of the elderly man they rescued.

"I asked him what he brought and what clothes he had. He said he had his clothes on. He had no idea, no belongings," she added.

The elderly man, who was initially brought to a shelter, is now with his family in California, according to Gudao.

The three Filipino teachers were part of the 50 J-1 visa Filipino teachers assigned to Maui, where they were joined by four other educators in Lahaina.

According to Gudao, they were reported missing after they got separated with their four co-educators while evacuating from the wildfires.

"The three of us went missing because the other four teachers evacuated to a safer location," she said.

Life was not easy for the three of them during evacuation. Gudao narrated: "We had no electricity, almost no water due to contamination, and no reception."

Even food was a problem. "We went without proper meals – biscuits for breakfast and bread for lunch. We had to ask for food; otherwise, we wouldn't have been able to eat rice. We were there for three days, and the road was blocked," Gudao said.

Espina, for her part, expressed gratitude for the outpouring of support from the community

"The Filipino community here in Hawaii is hospitable. They are concerned about us. We're the first Filipinos to become teachers in Maui, so they're concerned about us," she said.

We learned that a mother and child were found hugging each other, and it's heartbreaking. I'm also a mother, and I'm worried about my child. The wildfire spread quickly towards downtown, and we worry about the love and smiles of the people, as if we're not far from the Philippines."  —KBK, GMA Integrated News