Cebu flood hero Jayboy Magdadaro saves 50 amid Hurricane Tino

CEBU, Philippines – Floods spare nobody. They take houses, reminiscences, generally life itself. However for 15-year-old Jayboy Magdadaro, they may not take his braveness, nor his unwillingness to depart anybody behind.

Haunted by the devastation of Hurricane Odette (Rai) in 2021, Cebuanos have been decided to not be caught off guard after they realized Hurricane Tino (Kalmaegi) was approaching. 

Jayboy’s household was no totally different. They lived in Villa Lara, Jubay, Liloan, and when the sky darkened with Hurricane Tino’s method, they evacuated to his sister’s home in Sitio San Roque, hoping it might maintain towards the storm’s wrath.

Hurricane Tino, nonetheless, confirmed no mercy. In simply 24 hours, it dumped over 200 millimeters of rain in Cebu — greater than a month’s value — flooding streets and communities with an estimated a million barrels of water.

The Cotcot River, already swollen from the nonstop downpour, spilled over its banks and blended with rainwater speeding down from the hills, flooding whole communities in Liloan.

“We have been at my sister’s home when the flood hit,” Jayboy mentioned. “The water had already reached the second flooring… simply three inches from the roof.” 

It was his uncle who lastly rescued them from the rising water. However even after being rescued, Jayboy couldn’t cease wanting again. Seeing his fellow Cebuanos struggling within the water haunted him. Security felt incorrect when others have been nonetheless trapped.

“I didn’t know who to assist first as a result of everybody was asking for assist,” Jayboy mentioned. 

By the point his uncle had helped as many neighbors as he might, exhaustion and starvation compelled him to depart the small wood boat and lifebuoy behind. Seeing the instruments deserted however figuring out lives have been nonetheless in danger, Jayboy seized them and waded into the floodwaters. 

From 8 am till nightfall, he rowed towards the cries for assist, specializing in probably the most weak — kids, pregnant girls, and the aged. The small boat might maintain solely 4 folks at a time, so he made repeated journeys.

After dropping survivors on increased floor, he would cling to a lifebuoy and let the present pull him again towards these nonetheless trapped. Then he would seize the boat once more and row towards one other group clinging to no matter they may whereas waving for assist.

On one journey, he remembered holding a toddler on his shoulder whereas clinging to a lifebuoy, the floodwaters rising to his neck as he fought to maintain the kid protected whereas navigating the sturdy currents. 

At occasions, the present slammed him towards submerged obstacles, and he almost slipped on hidden rocks. He even noticed our bodies floating previous him. Each journey to security meant returning to the water once more, to threat himself for these nonetheless trapped.

“If you see them begging for assist, you don’t consider concern,” he mentioned. “I wasn’t afraid as a result of I wished to assist.”

By the tip of the day, Jayboy had rescued over 50 folks. Some tried to present him cash, however he refused. 

“They tried to present me cash, however I refused as a result of they have been struggling too. I informed them, ‘Simply use it to purchase meals,’” Jayboy mentioned. “I couldn’t settle for it as a result of we have been in the identical state of affairs — each of us wanted assist.”

As of this posting, Cebu province reported 108 fatalities, 1,365 injured, and 44 lacking, with Liloan among the many hardest-hit cities, accounting for 34 deaths and 126 injured. 

The catastrophe unfolded amid controversy over native management. Liloan Mayor Aljew Fernando Frasco was amongst seven mayors from Cebu’s fifth District who confronted public criticism for touring to London whereas Hurricane Tino battered the province. (READ: Cebu mayors face complaints over London journey amid Hurricane Tino)

Roots and a serving to coronary heart

Jayboy, a ninth grader, is the youngest of 5 siblings. His mom, Alma, works as a municipal sweeper for Liloan, whereas his father additionally works for the city authorities in a “job order” capability. Rising up in a household devoted to serving their neighborhood, Jayboy realized the values of arduous work, empathy, and placing others first from an early age.

“My son has at all times been useful, typically aiding aged people by guiding them to their locations,” Alma mentioned, as quoted by The Freeman.

That kindness prolonged past on a regular basis acts, turning into evident throughout Hurricane Tino. Jayboy’s 77-year-old grandmother, Luciana Magdadaro, described the terrifying moments and her immense aid.

“I’m so blissful as a result of he managed to avoid wasting my grandchildren who have been trapped on the roof — it was terrifying up there,” Luciana mentioned. “I used to be right here, holding again my tears… Thanks from the underside of my coronary heart. So many individuals have been helped.”

Jayboy’s connection to his neighborhood additionally reveals in his position as a youth volunteer for the Sangguniang Kabataan (SK), the place he assisted in organising native occasions and supporting neighborhood packages. Even after rescuing over 50 folks through the storm, he continued serving to his neighbors the next day by cleansing houses affected by the floods, regardless of affected by a painful toothache that introduced him to tears at occasions.

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Teenage hero

Due to Jayboy’s selfless acts throughout Hurricane Tino, many individuals have come ahead to acknowledge him as a hero. 

After rescuing over 50 folks from the floodwaters, a type of he helped posted about him on Fb, and his story shortly went viral. Netizens and public figures alike reached out to increase assist to him and his household.

He was given a brand new telephone to exchange the one misplaced through the flood, clothes, footwear, slippers, groceries, and a brand-new bicycle. Group organizations and people additionally provided scholarships and pledges to cowl his tuition and allowance, ought to he select to proceed his research at native colleges. Moreover, he has entry to free medical providers. 

Jayboy has additionally been formally acknowledged by native authorities. Mabolo Barangay Chairman Daniel Francis Arguedo awarded him a full scholarship overlaying all faculty bills, together with a month-to-month allowance of P3,000, in honor of his bravery. 

The municipality of Liloan additionally granted Jayboy a scholarship that can proceed till he finishes his research.

“I cried after I hugged him… Jayboy is an inspiration to everybody, particularly our responders, who’re at all times able to threat their lives simply to avoid wasting others,” mentioned Arguedo. 

Jayboy additionally shared that he plans to pursue a level in criminology, aiming to turn out to be a police officer so he can proceed serving to folks. 

He mentioned his love for skimboarding helped him develop the stability and agility wanted to navigate the floodwaters through the rescue. – Rappler.com

*Quotes in Cebuano have been all translated to English for brevity.

Marjuice Destinado is a senior political science pupil at Cebu Regular College (CNU) and an alumna of the Aries Rufo Journalism Fellowship of Rappler for 2025.