The name Menchu de Luna Sanchez rings a bell? You are right, she is the Filipina nurse that US President Obama paid tribute to on his most recent State of the Union Address. Sanchez saved at least 20 babies when superstorm Sandy ravaged and knocked off the electricity in New Jersey and New York, including the New York University Langone Medical Center where she is working. This endangered the lives of the babies but Sanchez still managed to bring all of them in safety. Now, that’s heroic.

 

It is the kind of deed that is worthy of a hero’s welcome, isn’t it? And she received just that at her home in Catanauan, Quezon plus the much coveted Quezon Medalya ng Karangalan (QMK) award, the highest award that the provincial government gives to its outstanding natives. It was awarded to her by no less than the honorable Quezon Gov. David C. Suarez who said that he actually didn’t know Sanchez personally but upon witnessing her deed and Obama’s address, he immediately thought that she is the best person to receive the award this year.

 

Menchu de Luna Sanchez was born and raised in Catanauan, Quezon. She received her nursing degree from the Mary Chiles Hospital in Sampaloc, Manila and her bachelor’s at the Makati Medical Center School of Nursing. She went to work for 10 years in Saudi Arabia before she was able to transfer to the United State where her 19 years old daughter Michelle and 20 years old son Jude are currently studying.