It was supposedly just normal duty hours for FO3 Efrain Ngade on January 11, 2023 when an unexpected baby delivery notified their office. He undoubtedly responded to the case and helped in the delivery of a healthy baby inside a car. This draw commendation and appreciation in social media through the Facebook post of PIA-Mountain Province.
What makes him unique?
Aside from his profession as a BFP, he also does embalming, which is accordingly a means for him to “care for the dead”. This may sound unusual to some people, but for him, it is just another way of helping others and serving the community. For this BFP officer, embalming is his way of extending his service to those who have passed away. He believes that even in death, people deserve respect and dignity. By preserving their bodies through embalming, he helps families say goodbye to their loved ones in a more meaningful way.
This man’s skills in embalming show how diverse and dedicated he is when it comes to serving his community. His willingness to go above and beyond what is expected of him truly makes him an asset not only to the BFP but also to society as a whole.
BFP Efrain L. Ngade demonstrates the attributes of an unsung hero in our society. He is one of the best examples because he puts his life on the front line every day to save people and property from fire and other disasters. Guided by the principles of his nursing degree, this brave man is trained to handle any emergency situation. He plays a crucial role in ensuring public safety by preventing fires, responding quickly during emergencies, conducting inspections, and educating communities about fire safety.
His work as a fireman is not an easy one. He works long hours, often in dangerous conditions, where he must always be physically fit and mentally prepared for any situation that may arise. His commitment to helping people in need manifests in his profession as a public servant and caregiver. Being a fire officer at present, he did not disregard his nursing principle to help and render free services to other people.
According to him, he started embalming in 2009 during the strike of typhoons Ondoy and Pepeng, during which a lot of people died. In 2018, he also applied embalming to his deceased brother, who was involved in an accident. In counting, he rendered his services to more than 50 deceased people without expecting anything in return.
He added that the lack of embalming services in Mountain Province and the additional expense burden it brought to bereaved families awakened his initiative to continue to provide these services for free, inclusive of the service and materials used.
Despite being in the limelight due to heroic acts, he still acknowledges the people supporting his services like his brother, Bruce Lee Ngade who continuously provides him tools and equipment that he can use during embalming procedures. Also, he acknowledges the collected effort and support of his colleagues that aids the success of the activity. The process of embalming that he is doing follows a protocol of DOH, like sanitation and the proper procedures.
What his motivation to push through?
According to Ngade, the main reason that pushes him to render a service is for the sake of humanity. He stated that“Nakaka high moral ang pagtulong sa kapwa lalo na pagmay nasasalbang buhay”. He also added that “Mayat iti rikna nga araramaten daka ti Diyos nga makatulong iti pada nga tao” (I feel great that God is using me to help others).
How did he become an inspiration to youth?
According to him, these services serve as his and his colleagues’ legacy to the people in their community.
His Message: “…continous helping, those people who received help from our station will in return help others also because that is the spirit of binadang”.
His message to people who needs his help: “…haan da agbabain nga agkedaw ti tulong kinyami, 24/7 nga open ti Bontoc fire station”. (…don’t be shy to ask for help. Our office is 24/7 open here in Bontoc fire station).
Now he is currently working as fire officer 3 in the Bureu of Fire Protection for 11 years from three stations— Tadian to Bauko and now Bontoc.
He is not expecting something in return, he is promoting humanity. He is humble, he acknowledges the collected effort of his colleagues that makes him an inspiration not just for me but also for the youth. By Rowena Meloy
