A video of a young man’s heroic act in helping a woman in labor outside a health center in Cagayan de Oro is slowly circulating online.

Francis Derrick Alcantara, a post-graduate medical intern at Northern Mindanao Medical Center, was shown taking charge of the emergency situation after health workers who brought the mother found out that the health center was in lockdown.

Alcantara, 26, said he was trying to sleep inside their house across the closed health center when he heard a commotion outside.

“Lumabas mom ko para tingnan kung ano nangyayari. Yun nga sabi niya may nanganganak daw,” Alcantara said.

He went inside to watch, thinking that the situation was under control, but found out that barangay workers were looking for a nurse or a doctor.

“Lumalabas na talaga yung ulo ng bata. So sabi ko, kung may gamit ba sila. Pinuntahan ko yung ambulance para kumuha ng gamit. Pagbalik ko, palabas na yung bata. Di ko na na-catch. Kaya ang ginawa ko, kinuha ko na lang yung bata kaagad tapos tinanggal ko yung pagkapulupot ng umbilical cord sa leeg niya,” Alcantara said.

Alcantara said he went back to the ambulance again to get more supplies to cut the cord, and then accompanied the mother and the baby to the nearest health center three kilometers away.

Both mother and baby girl were healthy, he said.

Alcantara, a former junior tennis player who once competed in local circuit, said he only did everything he had learned and remained calm during the crisis.

People were quick to applaud Alcantara’s efforts including his older brother, national tennis team player Francis Casey Alcantara.