Cotabato daycare teacher risks herself to save students during quake

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Cotabato province daycare center teacher Erlinda Ajero risked her life during one of the earthquakes that struck Mindanao to protect her five to six-year-old students from falling debris, Ivan Mayrina reported Friday on GMA 7 news program 24 Oras.

Ajero was at the daycare center in Barangay Rodero with her young students when the earthquake struck.

Instead of saving herself from the falling debris, Ajero rushed to her students and shielded them using her body.

"Hindi sila lumabas, naka-react. Nakatingin lang sakin. May iba nag iyak yun na lang naisip ko [na] dive-an ko na lang yung mga bata dahil maglakas na talaga ang lindol," recounted Ajero.

She managed to lead her students out of the building, only to discover that there was an injured student who was still inside.

When she went back to help the student, a chunk of concrete fell on her and she immediately lost consciousness.

While Ajero is being treated at a hospital, she still has not been x-rayed nor CT scanned because of the hospital's "limited operations" following the series of earthquakes that hit Mindanao.

Despite her injuries, Ajero did not regret putting her young students first.

"Mga bata talaga, sir, ang nasa isip ko. Bahala na maano ako. Basta mga bata, safety. Mahal ko ang mga bata, kasi how many years ako nagtuturo ng day care.... Mahal ko ang mga bata," Ajero said.

One of the parents was appreciative of Ajero's selflessness.

"Nagpasalamat kami sa aming teacher dahil di niya hinayaan yung mga bata," said Nelly Casas.

This week, two earthquakes with magnitudes of 6.6 and 6.5, struck Mindanao. — Angelica Y. Yang/DVM, GMA News