Remember Mr. and Mrs. Gary Fernandez, parents of the quintuplets born under difficult circumstances at a Jose Memorial Medical Center (JMMC) Hospital? Well, it seems that after giving them a measly 20,000 pesos by presidentiable and billionaire, Senator Mar Roxas and Korina Sanchez, the family was left to fend for themselves. Two of the babies already died because of inadequate funds, and only three remain alive. And the family is seriously asking for the public’s help.
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.
Lack of funds and support caused the lives of Korina Ysabel and Marie Loralaine and only Sarah, Erika and Wenna Mavinia remain alive.
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. 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. Milyon-milyon ang ginagastos sa mga TV ads, kaunting tulong lang sa tunay na mga nangangailangan, hindi pa nagawa. Paano pa kung nakapuwesto na? Puro ngawa at pagsasabing “lalaban tayo”, pero sa tunay na laban pala, hindi na maasahan. Mumo lang para kay Mar ang kaunting medical assistance para sa pamilyang ito, bilyonaryo ang pamilya niya, pero, hindi man lang naasahan.
For Filipinos who read this—listen to Raffy Tulfo’s “Wanted sa Radyo” program today (it airs 2pm over at DZXL 558 khz). Please help them. The parents of the quintuplets will be there. Jot down the details on how to help them and please, please help us save the lives of their remaining babies. Tayo tayo na lang ang tumulong. Tayo-tayo na lang ang tumulong para malabanan ng pamilyang ito ang hamon sa kanila ng panahon.Wag na si Mar.Pabayaan na lang natin siyang maghanda sa kasal niya. Puro ngawa, walang gawa.
Popularity: 1% [?]
No surprise there. Mar and Korina are too busy looking sweet hhwwpssp. And the family shouldn’t have expected follow-through from Roxas. Nakuha na niya gusto niya. (It won’t take long before Mar will try to look sympathetic again with another tiny but late donation. AND the masses won’t remember.)
You might wanna update your older praises for Mar at your blog/s with backtracks to this article, Pat.
It is not for Mar Roxas to serve as parent, family, or government aid-giver for every destitute Filipino. He is a private citizen with a public job. If he filled every outstretched hand, he would also be destitute. Your wrath is suitably aimed at a government that does little to stop runaway population growth and poverty, and fails to provide adequate health care for children and adults across the country.
My opinion is shaded by having money, having outstretched hands reaching for it, in tears, a lot, and having to make “no” decisions that affect people’s lives. Sometimes no is hard to say; but sometimes it has to be said.
Go to the root cause and fix that. Don’t pin the troubles of the Philippines on one man’s personal decision.
Joe
Agree with Joe 100%!!!!
You’re absolutely right, Joe. But we were expecting quid pro quo for Roxas’s prompt attempt at making himself charitable. While I should have pointed out that I do not necessarily agree with the harsh headline used, I can relate to having higher expectations of a man selling himself the way he does now. “Hindi ko kayo pababayaan,” he says.
Filo,
Point understood. Roxas was off my list of candidates anyway. I think he is broad in the wallet and light in the substance. Maybe we come to agreement at that point, based on the apparent lack of follow-through.
Joe
There should be a law, and maybe Mar Roxas can sponsor it.
All hospitals :
- shall be required to provide critical life-saving drugs (list to be created by DOH),;
… if the drug is in the hospital’s inventory,
… to any of its registered patients,
… regardless of the patient’s ability to pay;
– Govt-Republic-Pinas will reimburse the hospitals:
++ up to P50,000 per patient;
++ up to P5-million per hospital per year;
– List of approved-for-reimbursement life-saving drugs to be created by DOH 6 months after the law is passed and subject to yearly review;
@joe
The point here is not that he has to provide for every outstretched hand, but rather he promised the family his help and support. He used the family’s trouble for publicity and after that he did not follow through with his promise. Trapo!
Mar Roxas and fiancee gave a check for P02,000. Mar should gotten permission from his to give more, but apparently he did not.
Apparently, what Roxas should have done is what gov Panlilio, Mayor Binay or Loren Legarda had done — nothing. Do nothing is wise, no check, no visit, no publicity — no nothing.
Beggar attitude, I say.
“Mar Roxas left quintuplets to die”
Isn’t the care and welfare of children are the responsibility of the parents? I can’t believe that the author of the article is implying that Mar Roxas is entirely responsible for the lives of the babies.
The article title is also misleading since it says that all of the 5 babies have died already. However, upon reading the article, only two have died and the 3 are in critical condition.
This may sound harsh, but it’s better that only 1 of the 5 babies will survive since the the parents do not have the financial capability to support them.
You dont believe any politician, do you? They are there for photo
opportunities. To advertise, they are compassionate to people. So that you will vote for them. After you vote for them. You will not
even see their shadows.
A good fund drive should be done to help the family.
Reminds me of what Mar is saying in his political jingle:
“Ramdam ko kayo. Wag kayong matakot. Lalaban tayo.”
I have yet to read a studiedly-thought out review what this infommercial of Mar really mean, if it means any.
On hindsight, classic empty rhetoric.
Here’s my 2 cents’ worth, just because I had my favorite hummus this morning.
http://www.betterphilippines.com/voters-education/an-educated-approach-to-screening-out-crap/comment-page-1/#comment-428
And then there is action, and there better be action to prevent empty rhetoric from getting Mar Roxas or name-your-bozo elected.
In the end, the Government is not a FRIEND, a DOCTOR, an ALLY.
For the common good is not personal. So, I guess, we must spare Mar the rod or it would reflect on us.
Dear Joe,
I would be interested to know more about the “light in substance” comment that you posted on Mar Roxas. Did you mean that he was empty in the cranial area or that his deeds are just there for publicity’s sake and nothing more?
I think I know what you mean and you must be refering to the latter. I just want to know more. Mar and I grew up together and while he is a tad older than me and ahead on my class at the Ateneo, we worked on several prolific investment banking deals when he was still an investment banker from New York. We’ve had our differences and they are plenty, so I take these as constructive criticism which, I might say, he trully needs.
Regards,
Dean
Dean,
Yes, the public posture, as seen on advertising, which I see as staged, and in his press quotes, which I see as political. He has a good foundation, I suppose marred in my mind by the old family name, but I have not seen articulated anywhere what I would call a sound platform that would appeal to opinion leaders. Maybe he has enough money that he does not need it.
I want to move Mr. Roxas to the top of my list, but can’t quite find the substantive handle by which to lift him.
Joe
Dear Joe,
What you and everyone else are seeing are works by paid public relations men. The Mar I know is not a Mar that would appeal to many. Unfortunately that is the Mar that you might find worthy because that is where a good foundation for the presidency lies. He is relatively intelligent. He is honest. He is very simple in his lifestyle. He is temperamental. He is methodical. He is impatient. That is also where you might find the platform you are looking for.
Right now, I agree with you that the platform has not been revealed and the reason is that it is still work in progress. But people are working on it. People like former Secretaries Cesar Purisima of Finance and Butch Abad of Education.
Mar is currently concentrating on moving up in the popular rankings and he is having a hard time doing that. A month ago he told me that the Mr. Palengke image he worked on previously was not being translated into “presidentiable”. People saw him as a good senator but not good enough to be president.
Like the other presidentiables, he toured the PR circuit looking for a publicist that might present the best “route” up the rankings. You might be surprised to know that the few who know him quite intimately do not agree with the imagery built around him.
He stumbled quite accidentally on the “walking tall” image when he pursued the Legacy-Rural bank issue and the cheaper medicines issue. From those, his PR poeple developed the ” I will fight for you” stance. Still, these are persona imagery.
Like you, I am hoping that soon, we will get to see the stuff that matter the most. Real solutions, platform and program of governance. In the meantime, there will be the kitschy wedding stories, the romancing Korina telenovela and those epidermal PR stunts (like cussing in public)that actually hide the real Mar.
Dean
thank you for the insight Dean, much appreciated.
Dean,
Thank you for the additional perspective. Frankly, I like that Mr. Roxas is impatient and swears; they are nice adjuncts to honesty.
My observation is that much of the Philippine “way” is glowing words detached from any kind of forthright action. Wow tourism; shoddy resorts. Glorious state of the state address; wretched poverty, soaring debt. Smiling Ms. Arroyo in her hard-hat along the roads; generally poor state of roads and utilities nationwide.
What I would like to see from top candidates is not hail Philippine programs like “I will fight corruption”, but specific action steps that will curtail corruption.
Recognition that the Mindanao situation is not just a fight against terrorism. It is a fight against the government’s inadequacy in building an economy in Sulu and surrounding areas. The important challenge is not to militarily defeat the enemy, although violence must be opposed; it is to get jobs there.
Curtailment of global travel except when something tangible is at stake.
Those kinds of things, where it shows he understands the matter to the real core.
I read some of Teodoro’s regional platform statements. He has a lot of words, many of them the right idea, many “hail Philippines”; but I object to his fundamental format of regional solutions to national issues.
Joe
Dear Joe,
I love your second paragraph. Can I use it in my mainstream media columns? I will attribute to you of course if you so desire.
I agree with you on the Mindanao issue. I have relatives and friends in Davao and if I told you who they were you might recognize that they are among those who’ve worked to bring more jobs to the area.
Against the efforts of many, the violence is quite a turn-off. So is the default methodology of the government in blowing up everything in sight. Rashdi Abubakar, a Muslim (royalty at that) and the former mayor of Jolo was a dear friend from the Ateneo. Unfortunately, he’s been driven out of Jolo by the overall violence there. He and his family are now permamnently in Manila. Another classmate was not as fortunate and died.
The violence is so overpowering.
Regards,
Dean
Dean,
Good morning. Sorry for the delay in responding. I only attach to the internet now and then and enjoyed a rather long and pleasant day at the beach yesterday sipping tuba and cola and lolling in the sea with a gorgeous panorama of islands behind me, across the calm water.
You may use my words without attribution, as I am effectively a non-entity with a voice.
The problem with the violence is that it is destructive most to people who are innocent, including the families of those who wield the violence. The government flicks it off the shoulder like an irritating gnat.
Joe
now that mar roxas is into another attempt of grandizing himself as a stateman by “sacrificing” his personal ambition on the presidency by endorsing noynoy (even without noynoy confirming that he has already decided to run for the highest position)…let us see now how the intellect of the filipino voters really reacts on this…
“Tinimbang ka ngunit kulang” applies to Mar Roxas as a politician. At a recent local radio program in Capiz, he threatened former allies who have organized a local political party, Ugyon Kita Capiz, with political demise (“Pirdehon ko kamo tanan” (“I will defeat you all”) as if he is the only one voting in Capiz. He could be probably correct given his 3Gs (guns, goons, and gold). During his various stints in the gov’t, the most important as DTI Secretary, he has never invited any investor to invest in “his” province which could have helped generate job creation and commerce. He probably sees the whole province of Capiz as one of their families numerous haciendas and the people there as “sacadas”. Now the emperor has no clothes at all. His former local LP leaders has deserted him and Capiz will not be his bailiwick anymore. He is now called Mar “Atras” in Capiz. Hindi pala sya lalaban.
I used to know Mar many years ago when we were both young. Time has passed and we have not seen each other for some time. I had followed his political career with some interest and even hoped he would be a new type of leader for a country still mired in poverty and misery and betrayed for so many years by the empty promises made by those who have been elected by a generous people who still believe that a better future is attainable. Just last week “The New York Times” published an article on the growing population of the Philippines which remains a largely Catholic nation with no visible legal birth control programs and/or abortion on the books–where is the courage needed to face the Catholic hierarchy? I have never visited this site but did see the spectacle of this week’s “wedding of the year” (officiated by numerous Catholic bishops)in Manila in various websites and simply could not believe my eyes! The sheer arrogance of this larger than life wedding is absurd. The opportunity to do good, to really lead a nation is something the senator has lost sight of. The larger than life extravaganza made me ill. Who advised him to go along with this Hollywood production? His family? This is such an affront to nation that was dealt some horrific natural disasters less than a few weeks ago. Yes, it is his money and he can do as he pleases but at times, a little humility and empathy for one’s fellow citizens is what is called for–especially if one is in the position of leadership. Perhaps this is why he has decided not to run for president next year. Let’s hope the senator enjoys his honeymoon and upon his return has the good common sense to come down to earth, roll up his sleeves, and claim some of his dignity and prestige he does not realize he has lost, and work for the people that put him in the Senate. I can only wish him the best and hope he realizes that he is, after all, a public servant and confronts the challenges of his office before he is morally bankrupt.
who are you to decide what kind of wedding they should have? it’s their wedding, a man who wanted to make sure that his bride will have a memorable wedding that every woman would have dreamed of. a wedding which is once in a lifetime.
…and FYI, they donated their reception to the victims of the flood. Mar and Korina are not the only people in the country who are capable to help, but they had done their part. have you?
While we cannot put the blame on the babies’ deaths to Mar Roxas (just like what the post’s title is suggesting), any candidate — not just Mar — should also not make promises he cannot (or is not willing to) keep.
and any of us should not put our life depending on any politician… stop being a beggar.
Mar uses this to get some attention but he forgets to fulfill his promise. Mar Roxas was only willing to give the Fernandez P20,000,
some clothes and milk powder, conveniently forgetting his pledge to
bankroll all of the medical expenses of the babies and their mother.
Mar Roxas is really anti poor. Proof: he is proposing additional 2 years para sa elementary at high school.Very insensitive to the flight of the poor who cant can not even finish school.
Kaya, kami, kay Bayani Fernando. Sensible at pro poor.
The title is really harsh. It’s not Mar’s fault that the kids died. The parents are wrong on putting their problems on Mar’s shoulders. Mar helped them though he may not have done the follow-up, but he did help. Helping them may have been just a political stint but the parents should have known that it’s their own problem and they should be glad that someone has helped them. If I was Mar, I think it was better not to help them as to not get this harsh article.
And now, this radio program has used their case to attack the politician, are they not thinking that they are again used for publicity? for ratings?
That’s the problem with us Filipinos. We always want to put our problems to other people’s shoulders and then blame them if something bad happen to us. Just sad, sad, sad. We’ll never change nor never learn.