Gordon reunites with Lola Juana

She is a 93-year old grandmother who happened to be walking around the old church in Infanta, Quezon when Philippine National Red Cross (PNRC) chairman Richard J. Gordon led a relief operation there two years ago after a super typhoon struck the province.

Juana Gloria may not remember the details of that first meeting, but it was captured in a picture that Gordon eventually put in his calling card. She, submerged in flood waters that reached up to her knee, holding on to Gordon for balance; and he, in a Red Cross shirt and black boots, inquiring how her family is holding up after the disaster.

Lola Juana later came to be known as “the old lady” among Red Cross staff, since nobody was able to get her name or contact details. And early this year, the search for the old lady began.

Gordon has a penchant for visiting people whom he had rescued or given assistance to – years after the encounter. For example, he reunited with one of the 9,000 aetas he evacuated from the foot of an exploding Mt. Pinatubo in 1991. She was just a baby at the time is now a teenager in Tarlac.

To expedite the search for Lola Juana, Gordon’s volunteers published newspaper ads and gave away his calling cards around Infanta. Upon getting hold of the calling card, Lola Juana rushed to Manila – she even had to borrow money from a meat vendor to pay for the bus fare. She then showed the calling card to the bus conductor who immediately sent a text message to Gordon. Later, several volunteers fetched her from the bus station and brought her to the hospital for a general check up.

The reunion finally took place yesterday at the Philippine General Hospital. It was a tearful occasion for both of them, with Lola Juana profusely thanking Gordon for remembering her after all these years and taking the time to take care of her needs.

“Nahihiya na po ako sa dami ng ginawa ninyo sa akin, Senator Gordon (You have already done so much for me, Senator Gordon.),” she told him, clutching his arm. “Maraming salamat po sa naitulong ng Red Cross sa akin (Thank you very much for all the help the Red Cross has extended to me.).”

Gordon stood right there comforting her. “Huwag po kayong magpasalamat sa akin (You don’t have to thank me.),” he said. “Masaya ako na natulungan ko kayo (I am glad to help you.).”

According to her doctors, Lola Juana only has mild hypertension to worry about. She returned to Infanta earlier today in a Red Cross ambulance.