Philippine flag saved by young girl during Typhoon Juaning
August 26, 2011
A young girl braved raging floodwaters brought on by Typhoon Juaning to save the Philippine flag as the storm caused major devastation in her hometown of Malinao, Albay.
Someone managed to catch Janela's heroic action on video, and it went viral after being posting on YouTube.com. The Philippine Information Agency reports that publicity gained by the video has warranted donations, such as food, clothes and money to help repair Janela's home - which was destroyed in the storm.
The National Historical Commission of the Philippines, the branch of the Filipino government that promotes the nations history and cultural heritage, formally recognized the efforts of 12-year-old Janela Arcos Lelis. She is the first Filipino child to be bestowed with such an honor, according to the Inquirer Global Nation.
"We thank and admire Janela and we home that your classmates and all the other young people in the country will follow your wonderful example of giving tribute to our national flag," NHCP president Maria Serena Dionko said as she affixed a symbolic Philippine flag pin onto Janela's collar at the ceremony, the news source reports.
People can use international phone cards to place calls to the Philippines to talk to their loved ones about the story of the heroic girl, and to see how they are faring in the wake of the typhoon.