Treading through unwarranted territories, two firefighters unmindful of the risks showed grit, exceptional courage and quick life-saving thinking in the face of extreme danger in two separate emergency situations aearning accolades from the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP).
In simple rites on Monday, June 29, BFP officer-in-charge (OIC) Chief Supt. Rico Neil A. Kwan Tiu stated that it is with great pride that the bureau honors Insp. Vijoan M. Yumul and Fire Officer 2 (FO2) Ludwig Erick T. Zosa for their remarkable deeds in the midst of imminent danger.
Yumul was bestowed the “Medalya ng Kagalingan’’ award for demonstrating uncanny bravery and decisiveness as she immediately jumped in and pulled a two-year old child to safety, who fell onto the train tracks, while in the country to attend the International Fire Chiefs' Association of Asia (IFCAA).
On the other hand Zosa was the recipient of the “Medalya ng Kadakilaan’’ for his extraordinary feat in stepping in and subduing the armed minor, preventing further harm to the other students during the violent shooting spree at the San Jose National High School in Tacloban City, Leyte.
Kwan Tiu recognized the yumul and Zosa’s bravery as outstanding exhibition “of what it means to be a BFP personnel.’’
“May their achievements remind us that excellence is not measured only by extraordinary accomplishments, but by our commitment to serve with competence, compassion, and honor every single day. Let us continue to uphold these values as we fulfill our mission of protecting lives and properties and serving the Filipino people,” Kwan Tiu stated.
For their heroic acts, exemplified by their courage and professionalism, Kwan Tiu included Yumul and Zosa to be among the Philippine delegates in the 10th Joint Training Program on Collapsed Structure Search and Rescue (JTP 10 CSSR), scheduled on September 6–22, 2026, at the National Fire Agency Training Center in Nantou, Taiwan.
The BFP chief noted that their participation in the international training program not only serves as recognition of their outstanding service but also enhances their technical capabilities in urban search and rescue operations.