Mar Roxas redeemed himself

I just received an email from Amado Fores from the Marroxas2010 movement and he says that Gary and Lorelie Fernandez, parents of the quintuplets who went to the radio program of Raffy Tulfo (always listen to "Wanted sa Radyo" over DZXL, 2-4pm. Tulfo's program is really great! I commend Raffy Tulfo for fighting for the causes of the oppressed. Continue your advocacy Mr. Tulfo!) to ask for help.

The couple alleged that Mar Roxas reportedly abandoned them and just gave 20,000 pesos as financial assistance. Two of the five babies died. Two of the remaining three babies are reportedly sick and being assisted right now by the Jose Reyes Memorial Hospital, courtesy of Raffy Tulfo.

Last week, the couple wrote to Mar Roxas and apologized. Fores sent me a press release and I will publish this in full here. Finally, Roxas redeemed himself in this one.

And that's the way t go---help the couple stand on their own two feet by training them to have their own livelihood project. Also, I think it's pertinent for Mar Roxas to establish a FOUNDATION for those similarly situated couples so that they'll not suffer the same way this couple did.

Posted: 21 Aug 2009 08:57 AM PDTGary and Lorita Fernandez, parents of the
three remaining quintuplets born in April this year who received help from
Senator Mar Roxas and his girlfriend Korina Sanchez, last night apologized to
Roxas and Ms. Sanchez for criticisms labeled at them by some sectors after the
Fernandez couple sought financial help for further medical treatment of one of
the babies in a radio station last Tuesday.

In a letter to Roxas signed by Lorita Fernandez, the couple said they never criticized the senator and Ms. Sanchez but rather sought help from an anchor of a radio station because one of their children could be suffering from hydrocephalus.

"Kami pong mag-asawa ay humihingi ng paumanhin sa nangyaring kontrobersiya laban po sa inyo ngayon. Wala po kaming intensyon na siraan kayo (We apologize for the controversy we generated. We have no intention to besmirch your name)," said the couple in their letter to Roxas.In response, Roxas said the couple had nothing to apologize for, saying he understood the impatience that couples like them undergo because of the extreme poverty they live in.

"Nalulungkot ako na talagang sa hirap ng buhay ngayon, maraming pamilya gaya ni Gary at Lorita ang kailangang bigyan ng tulong pinansyal (I feel sad that there are couples like Gary and Lorita who really need financial assistance because of their poverty)," Roxas said.

"Nakausap ko na sila Gary at Lori at nainitindihan nilang mas mabuting maturuan silang magtayo ng sariling kabuhayan kesa sa umasa na lang sa tulong ng iba (I have talked to Gary and Lori and they understood that our approach which is to help them gain their own livelihood is better than relying on help from others)," he added.In their letter, the couple admitted they felt bad towards the social welfare officer assigned to assist them, thus they resorted to seeking help from a radio anchor, who in turn misinterpreted it as abandonment of the couple and their children despite all the assistance they already received.
"Kami po’y humingi ng tulong dahil kailangan po ng suporta ng mga bata … lalo na po sa pagpapagamot ni Marie Loralaine at Wenna Mavinia (We sought help for further support for our children .. especially for medication for Marie Loralaine and Wenna Mavinia)," the couple said.
"Wala po kaming masamang sinabi laban po sa inyo. Ang lahat ng negatibo ay pawang mga kumento (We did not say anything against you. All the negatives were just commentaries)” of the radio anchor, they added. “Alam po naming na sa lahat ng nilapitan naming nu’ng nanganak ako ay walang unang tumulong at nakinig kundi kayo. Kaya’t gusto pos ana naming kayo pasalamatan ng personal (We know that you were the only one who helped us immediately when I gave birth. That’s why we wanted to thank you personally)," Lorita said.Roxas’ chief-of- staff, Atty. Blas Viterbo, said the senator assigned a social welfare officer to assist the couple after taking care of the hospitalization and medical care for the quintuplets, two of who died from sepsis despite extra medical attention and medication paid for by Roxas and Ms. Sanchez. Until now, sepsis is a common cause of death among Filipino babies
born under similar circumstances of poor parents and multiple baby births.
The social welfare officer, Ms. Menchie Silvestre, had advised Roxas and Ms. Sanchez that it would be best to spare the Fernandez couple from more cash gifts and recommended that the couple be given livelihood training instead so they can raise their children without relying on financial help from others.
Roxas said he supports Ms. Silvestre’s advice in the handling of the couple, but assured them he continues to monitor their situation and will help them gain their own means of livelihood.
"Hindi ko sila pababayaan (I will take care of them)," he said.

Quintuplets left to die by Mar Roxas

It seems that even Liberal Party president and aspirant for the top post, Mar Roxas has been afflicted with the trapo way of ngako politics. And this my friends, is truly disapppointing. Read on...

A few months ago, Mrs. Lorie Fernandez gave birth to quintuplets at a Manila hospital. The babies were put under intensive care since they were born premature. They asked for the media's help since the family is so poor, they can't afford the 25,000 pesos worth of medicines that the babies need to save them from death.

Out came Senator and presidentiable Mar Roxas like a knight in shining armor. He went to the hospital with his fiance ABS-CBN news anchor Korina Sanchez. The couple gave the family baby's clothes, some cans of baby's milk and 20,000 pesos as financial assistance. But, not after taking some photos with the quintuplets and plastering the news all over town in tabloids, newspapers, radio and television. Roxas reportedly told the family that help is on the way and he'll continue to support the financial needs of the impoverished family.

A few days or weeks later, two of the babies, Korina Ysabel and Marie Loralaine, died due to complications and lack of medical support. Only three babies---Sara, Erika and Wenna Mavinia--continue to stay alive due to help from private individuals. Still, expenses remain very high.

Mr. Gary Fernandez, father of the quintuplets, said that they called Senator Roxas and the senator was always, always cannot be reached. They waited for his help but nothing came. Sa yaman at karangyaan ni Mar Roxas, ang nagawa lamang na tulong ng kagalang-galang na senador ay magbigay ng 20,000 pesos sa isang pamilyang kailangang-kailangan ang kanilang tulong.

The remaining three kids are under serious condition in a Manila hospital because two of the babies were diagnosed with hernia. They need immediate medical attention, particularly a cranial scan.

Gary Fernandez, the babie's father said he was truly disappointed with Mar Roxas, who sought his family and expressed desire to help them. After a full media conference with them, and taking their photos with the Senator which were plastered as banner stories in newspapers and television, Gary said they were just given 20,000 pesos and some clothes and baby's milk by the Senator. Roxas reportedly assured them of his help but, until now, nothing came out of that promise of assistance.

Gary said his two babies could have been saved from death, had Roxas fulfilled his promise of at least helping them raise funds for the medical expenses. Medicines for the babies cost 25,000 each per vial, and they were not able to raise the amount.

Yesterday, help continues to pour in for the Fernandez family from callers and fans of Raffy Tulfo in the radio show Wanted over DZXL (558 khz, 2-4pm). Callers from as far as Saudi Arabia heard of the family's pleas and OFWs pitched in and gave funds. The show generated more than 35,000 pesos in just one day, more than the 20,000 pesos given to the family by a billionaire politician.

Yan na nga ba ang sinasabi ko eh. Ngayon pa lang, hindi na makatulong. Pano mo pa aasahan yan pagka nakapuwesto na sa Malakanyang. Milyon-milyon ang ginagastos ni Senator Mar Roxas sa mga TV at radio ads niya, hindi man lang siya makapagbigay ng kahit kakarimpot lamang para sa mga tunay na nangangailangan.

Maramdamin ang TV commercial ni Mar at i-engganyo pa ang madla na lumaban. Pero, heto ngang pamilya na pilit lumalaban para mabuhay ang kanilang mga anak ay hindi nga natulungan ni Mar, isa lang pamilya sa milyon-milyong iba pang nagdurusa, pano niya sasabihing karapat-dapat siyang maging pangulo ng bansang ito?

Mr. Roxas, sa bilyong pisong kayamanan ng iyong pamilya, sana man lang nagdamot ka ng kaunting pantulong sa pamilyang Fernandez. Halagang 20,000 pesos lang ba ang kaya mo para sa tunay na nangangailangan na buhay ng kanilang mga sanggol ang nakataya?

For Filipinos abroad and friends of Filipinos who want to help these quintuplets, please, I ask of you, please help them. Listen to the radio program of Raffy Tulfo today at 2-2:30pm over at DZXL 558 Khz " Wanted sa Radyo" and take down the details of how you could help this family. The moral lesson in this case is simply don't trust politicians who want to be president.