Grieving parents seek passage of Sandy鈥檚 Act: We’re saving other people
During the hearing of the Senate panel on women on Thursday (March 6, 2022), Edward Garovillas narrates the tragic incident of his daughter Sandy at a family outing in Palawan in 2023. (Screenshot from Senate of the Philippines/Youtube)
MANILA, Philippines — For the parents of Sandy Garovillas, her untimely passing left an indescribable grief and sorrow.
Now, her loved ones seek to strengthen government policies and regulations to ensure that no more children will suffer from risky and reckless practices in the tourism industry.
Her story was narrated during the Senate hearing by the panel on women, children, family relations and gender equality on Thursday.
The forum tackled the bill of Senator Risa Hontiveros (Senate Bill No. 2971) referred to as “Sandy’s Act.”
The measure “seeks to prevent, mitigate and respond to risks affecting children and other visitors to Philippine tourists destinations” by providing sufficient medical and emergency services.
Sandy’s parents, Edward and Sarah, were present in the deliberations.
They told the senator that the passage of the bill will help prevent another similar tragedy from occurring.
Sandy died in October 2023 due to a jellyfish sting at a resort.
She passed away without receiving proper medical attention.
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“We are inspired by her, by her life. Sabi ko sa kanya, ‘Anak, andito na tayo. We are not saving us anymore. We are saving other people,'” Sarah, Sandy’s mother, said in tears, as she imagined her conversation with her daughter.
(We are inspired by her, by her life. I told her, ‘My child, we’re already here.’)
“This law, madaming pamilya ang mase-save natin. Mase-save nating lahat,” she told the legislators.
(This law, we will save many families. We can all save them.)
Sarah also shared the early years of her daughter Sandy.
Sandy had spent the first two years of her life in a hospital due to premature birth and complications.
Edward, Sandy’s father, said that as they spent a lot of time in the hospital, helping children in need became their advocacy.
“We’d like to think na natutunan namin yung pagtulong sa ibang tao dahil kay Sandy. After her loss, we were thinking how we could make a legacy,” Edward recalled.
(We’d like to think we learned how to help others because of Sandy.)
Edward then narrated the events leading to Sandy’s demise.
He said the resort’s staff could not provide first aid and the nearest hospital was 45 minutes away.
He added that a French medical student and a United States Army medic administered first aid.
READ: Child dies after jellyfish sting at Subic beach resort
“What was supposed to be a happy day turned out to be tragic for us,” Edward lamented.
