Ormoc parents ignore dangers from quake to save offspring

An Ormoc City mother named Rhissa used her body to shield her five month-old baby as Thursday's magnitude-6.5 earthquake caused their house to collapse around them.

Rhissa was killed when chunks of concrete fell on her head and back. She was the only quake-related death recorded in Ormoc City, GMA News TV program "State of the Nation with Jessica Soho" reported on Monday.

"Linigtas talaga," said Rhissa's mother. "Ang isip siguro sa bata, bahalang mawala siya, basta may maiwan siya."

"Pero kakayanin ko 'to, para sa anak ko, para matuwa naman ang kaluluwa niya," she added.

She vowed that, when her she grandchild was old enough, she would tell of her daughter's sacrifice.

"Mahal na mahal ko siya," said Rhissa's husband Michael, who was at work when the quake their Barangay Kabaonan home.

Meanwhile, in Barangay Milagro, Junior Antolin told managed to save his children during the quake, despite being injured in the back and thigh.

"Hindi na kung ako 'yung mamatay, basta 'yung mga anak ko hindi mamatay," Antolin explained. — Margaret Claire Layug/DVM, GMA News