Med student survived fire by an act of God, says mom

MANILA, Philippines - Divine intervention – aided by prayers and an unwavering faith in God – saved a 24-year-old medical student from death during a fire that gutted a clinic in Cabiao, Nueva Ecija Monday.

Miguel Rafael Ramos survived by an act of God, according to his mother, Marites Soliven David Ramos, daughter of Mercedes Soliven-David. Mrs. David is the younger sister of the late STAR publisher Max Soliven. 

Miguel is a grandnephew of the late STAR publisher and a first great-grandchild of the late former assemblyman Benito Soliven.

Marites David-Ramos told The STAR at the St. Luke’s Medical Center’s intensive care unit that nothing short of a miracle saved Miguel.

Three of Miguel’s companions – Cecille Quintos, Jen Morillos and Jessa Perez – died in the fire that gutted the second floor of the Cabiao Community Clinic (CCC).

Rafael Ramon Ramos, Miguel’s father, said his son’s group found their way to Cabiao because of an existing tie-up between St. Luke’s and the CCC. He said his son is a born leader who has always led his group.

Before the incident, he recalled that Miguel was excited to be spending this Valentine weekend with his girlfriend and his fellow medical students in Subic.

“My son has no social life because he spends 16 hours daily in St. Luke’s before he was sent to Cabiao, and he deserves the respite – and then this,” he said. 

As of press time, Miguel was being treated for second-degree burns, covering a fourth of his back. Both his ears were swollen while he had blisters.

Doctors said he was still fighting for his life. He was placed under sedation and a ventilator was attached to him to keep him from moving.

Miguel’s mother said her son is a strong-willed person, who, on his hospital bed, even wrote a message to Dr. Ma. Bernadette Arcena, the hospital’s psychiatrist, saying, “I will survive this.”  

She said Miguel always wears a brown scapular of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel wherever he goes. The scapular is said to protect one from fire or during water-related incidents.