Manila mayor Francisco “Isko Moreno” Domagoso was reunited with a boy he once helped to get a liver transplant three years ago.
Amy Bocaling shared how the Manila mayor helped her son Tuytuy, who had a billary atresia, and saved his life.
The 33-year old mother said they needed at least P2 million for her son to get a new liver.
“Nag viral po kasi ‘yung anak ko through social media. Nag ipon po kami ng mga barya... Nag raise po ako kasi hindi po namin kaya, two million po halos ‘yung kailangan pang operasyon niya (My son went viral on social media. We saved coins...I raised it because we couldn't afford it, almost two million is what he needs for the surgery),” Bocaling said in an interview.
Bocaling recalled that she had been so desperate at that time that she even begged for help and money at the market.
“Ginawa ko na po ‘yung kaya ko po kasi namalimos din po ako sa palengke po para maabot po yung two million ( I did what I could, I also begged in the market to reach the two million),” she recalled.
She said her son was only given two years to live.
“Talagang desperado po ako na ma-operahan yung anak ko kasi yung taning po niya two years lang po (I am really desperate to have my son get the operation because he only have two years to live),” she added.
While Bocaling and her son were not from the city of Manila, Domagoso said he did not think twice in helping them, saying what mattered most was the life of the child.
“I’m happy today, salamat sa Diyos, at least malusog yung bata (thank God, and at least the child is healthy),” he said.
“Noong araw kapag pumupunta sila sa atin, we don’t ask naman their addresses eh, ang importante mabuhay yung bata (Before when they come to us, we don't ask for their addresses, it's important for the child to live),” the Manila mayor said said.
While Tuytuy remains subject to lifetime maintenance medicines, Domagoso said he was nevertheless feeling well, and was already able to play like other kids.
"Salamat po,” said Tuytuy, who is now five years old.
“Life, every life is valuable. Basta masaya ako, eh di kahit papano may awa ang Diyos, makaraos ang mga ganitong klaseng pamilya na kunakaharap sa araw araw pangamba (I’m really happy, God has mercy, these kinds of families who face daily fears can survive),” Domagoso said.