Saved by RP doctor, NGO head repays Sulu

Two years ago, the director of a US-based humanitarian organization had a massive heart attack while on a mission in Jolo, Sulu.

The experience was surreal and he recalled seeing a bright light envelope his surroundings.

"I actually died in Jolo on July 7, 2004. I didn’t see a blue light. I didn’t see God. What I saw was an incredible clarity and I was willing to surrender to my fate that if I die, I’ll concede that I die. It was more positive than negative. I’ve seen death all my life and I am not afraid of it," Knightsbridge International director Edward Artis said.

But within seconds, Dr. Farrah Tan-Omar and her staff at the Jolo Provincial Hospital revived him.

Artis said he saw his survival as a sign that his service to humanity was not over. One of the biggest beneficiaries has been Jolo.

Through its partnership with the US-Joint Special Operations Task Force (JSOTF), the US Embassy and the Joint US Military Assistance Group (Jusmag), Knightsbridge International has been donating life-saving humanitarian relief to the people of Basilan, Sulu and nearby provinces in Mindanao since 2002.

Knightsbridge International is a California-based humanitarian relief organization that has provided millions of dollars worth of food, shelter and medicine to people in strife-torn locations throughout the world.

Artis and his friends James Law and Walt Ratterman had personally delivered goods to conflict areas like Afghanistan, Albania, Cambodia, Chechnya, Kosovo and Myanmar (Burma).

Artis said they chose Southern Mindanao because of the "great amount of help" the people there need.

"The people there, not just Muslims, need great amount of help. They need better health care, education and livelihood programs. With the aid comes hope and with that comes a desire for a desire for peace and prosperity... same the world over, not just in Muslim areas but in any area where poverty and despair are ever present," Artis said.

A particular memory that moved him was when he visited a local hospital in Jolo and saw patients, some young children, lying on the cold, hard ground.

"The patients were lying on the ground. Simply elevating them by putting them in beds — regardless of the beds’ condition — elevated their dignity," Artis said.

In a Basilan clinic, he recalled seeing a Muslim mother cradling her baby afflicted with hydrocephalus. She was waiting for a doctor to attend to her child. Artis learned that although there was a health center, there were no doctors to attend to the patients 24 hours a day, seven days a week. He and his team brought the child to Zamboanga.

Artis said more could be done for the people of Mindanao and he vowed to continue his group’s humanitarian mission there.

"I will continue to do anything to help the people there," Artis said.

He credits the Philippine government, the US Embassy, Jusmag and the JSOTF-P and its commander, Col. James Linder of the US Special Forces, for their humanitarian efforts in Mindanao

"Without the assistance of the Jusmag, and the JSOTF-P, we would not be working in any of the provinces in the Philippines today. They are doing all that they feel they can to help the people there. By working together through sharing of resources, talent, expertise and energy, we can do more things for the people of Sulu," Artis said.

Knightsbridge International, established in 1995, has already donated $934,010 worth of equipment and facilities for the poor like ambulances, hospital beds, wheelchairs, walkers, stretchers and educational facilities like desks and books.

Beyond the Call

The group’s humanitarian work is documented in the film "Beyond the Call," billed as an Indiana Jones meets Mother Teresa kind of adventure. This documentary follows them as they travel through some of the most turbulent yet beautiful places on Earth in its pursuit to deliver humanitarian aid.

Artis, Laws and Ratterman — former soldiers and modern knights — are members of the self-styled non-Catholic order of the Knights of Malta, the Order of St. Gregory the Great, the OSMTH Templar Knights, the Ethiopian Order of Saint Mary of Zion and the Knights of Rizal.

The film has been previewed in New York at the Tribeca Film festival, and has won the Grand Jury Prize at the Mountain Film festival also in the US. It continues to be previewed in many other film festivals.

Artis vows to continue his work saying "service to humanity is the best work of life."

"When I was younger I knew I wanted to be something but I don’t know what. But I know what I’m not gonna be and that’s a complacent, apathetic and sit-on-my-ass kind of guy. These people need our help and we’re here to help them," Artis said.