Soldiers get early Christmas gift from 90-yr-old lady

MANILA, Philippines - “Kung wala kayo, wala kami.”

Natividad Reyes, 90, smiled after saying these words to a soldier confined at the Armed Forces Medical Center in Quezon City on Monday.

She then gave him an early Christmas treat – a black pail with a towel, toothpaste, toothbrush, soap, alcohol, tissue, laundry bar and razors.

The soldier smiled and thanked Reyes, who then moved to another hospital bed to console another wounded hero and act like Santa Claus.

Reyes went to the military hospital to give early Christmas treats to 126 military personnel who are recovering at the Heroes’ Ward. Eight of the soldiers in the ward were injured during the Zamboanga City crisis.

“Di bale nang mabaril, huwag lang mamatay (It’s better to be shot than to be killed),” Reyes told a soldier as she thanked him for risking his life to defend the country.

“Time will come that (wound) will be gone and you will walk normally again,” she said to another military personnel who sustained injuries on his left foot.

Reyes said the plight of security forces involved in the Zamboanga standoff had prompted her to offer modest gifts to the soldiers.

“I watched on television the clashes in Zamboanga. When I saw how they (soldiers) behave, how they work out and how they push their way through, I said it is unfortunate that some will be wounded or killed,” she said in Filipino.

Reyes said she is just giving back to the soldiers who are willing to sacrifice their own lives to maintain peace in the country. It was the first time the 90-year-old woman offered gifts to military men.

Soldiers who received the presents were thankful to Reyes for appreciating their efforts.

Pvt. Leomark de Guzman, who was wounded on his right thumb during the Zamboanga crisis, said Reyes’ visit boosted his morale.

The 21-year-old soldier said he does not regret his decision to enter the service last April.

“It’s part of our duty to the country,” de Guzman, a memver of the 4th Mechanized Infantry Battalion, said.

Cpl. Muslih Mujib, who was also involved in the operations in Zamboanga, said they feel happy when visitors give them words of encouragement.

“She (Reyes) promised to pray for us and I thanked her. It boosted our morale,” he said.

Reyes hopes the government will continue to look after the welfare of soldiers who are risking their lives to fulfill their mission. She particularly cited the need to provide them with bullet proof vests that will minimize the risks they face in the battle field.