Fernandez couple apologize to Roxas

Gary and Lorita Fernandez, parents of the three remaining quintuplets born in April this year who received help from Senator Mar Roxas and his girlfriend Korina Sanchez, last night apologized to Roxas and Ms. Sanchez for criticisms labeled at them by some sectors after the Fernandez couple sought financial help for further medical treatment of one of the babies in a radio station last Tuesday.

In a letter to Roxas signed by Lorita Fernandez, the couple said they never criticized the senator and Ms. Sanchez but rather sought help from an anchor of a radio station because one of their children could be suffering from hydrocephalus.

"Kami pong mag-asawa ay humihingi ng paumanhin sa nangyaring kontrobersiya laban po sa inyo ngayon. Wala po kaming intensyon na siraan kayo (We apologize for the controversy we generated. We have no intention to besmirch your name)," said the couple in their letter to Roxas.

In response, Roxas said the couple had nothing to apologize for, saying he understood the impatience that couples like them undergo because of the extreme poverty they live in.

"Nalulungkot ako na talagang sa hirap ng buhay ngayon, maraming pamilya gaya ni Gary at Lorita ang kailangang bigyan ng tulong pinansyal (I feel sad that there are couples like Gary and Lorita who really need financial assistance because of their poverty)," Roxas said.

"Nakausap ko na sila Gary at Lori at nainitindihan nilang mas mabuting maturuan silang magtayo ng sariling kabuhayan kesa sa umasa na lang sa tulong ng iba (I have talked to Gary and Lori and they understood that our approach which is to help them gain their own livelihood is better than relying on help from others)," he added.

In their letter, the couple admitted they felt bad towards the social welfare officer assigned to assist them, thus they resorted to seeking help from a radio anchor, who in turn misinterpreted it as abandonment of the couple and their children despite all the assistance they already received.

"Kami po’y humingi ng tulong dahil kailangan po ng suporta ng mga bata … lalo na po sa pagpapagamot ni Marie Loralaine at Wenna Mavinia (We sought help for further support for our children .. especially for medication for Marie Loralaine and Wenna Mavinia)," the couple said.

"Wala po kaming masamang sinabi laban po sa inyo. Ang lahat ng negatibo ay pawang mga kumento (We did not say anything against you. All the negatives were just commentaries)” of the radio anchor, they added. “Alam po naming na sa lahat ng nilapitan naming nu’ng nanganak ako ay walang unang tumulong at nakinig kundi kayo. Kaya’t gusto pos ana naming kayo pasalamatan ng personal (We know that you were the only one who helped us immediately when I gave birth. That’s why we wanted to thank you personally)," Lorita said.

Roxas’ chief-of- staff, Atty. Blas Viterbo, said the senator assigned a social welfare officer to assist the couple after taking care of the hospitalization and medical care for the quintuplets, two of who died from sepsis despite extra medical attention and medication paid for by Roxas and Ms. Sanchez. Until now, sepsis is a common cause of death among Filipino babies born under similar circumstances of poor parents and multiple baby births.

The social welfare officer, Ms. Menchie Silvestre, had advised Roxas and Ms. Sanchez that it would be best to spare the Fernandez couple from more cash gifts and recommended that the couple be given livelihood training instead so they can raise their children without relying on financial help from others.

Roxas said he supports Ms. Silvestre’s advice in the handling of the couple, but assured them he continues to monitor their situation and will help them gain their own means of livelihood.

"Hindi ko sila pababayaan (I will take care of them)," he said.

Friday, August 21, 2009 | posted in gary fernandez, korina sanchez, lorita fernandez, mar roxas, menchie silvestre, philippines | 2 comments [ More ]

Senator Roxas and Korina Sanchez vows help to Fernandez quintuplets

Liberal President Senator Mar Roxas today committed to provide financial assistance and to help purchase antibiotic drugs for the treatment of the Fernandez quintuplets, two of whom remain in critical condition, at the neo-Intensive Care Unit of the Jose Reyes Memorial Medical Center.

Roxas and fiancee Korina Sanchez visited the quintuplets and their parents Lorita and Gary Fernandez at the JRMMC, to whom they pledged assistance for their hospital bills. The couple likewise stood as primary sponsors during the baptism of the newly-born babies at the hospital

"Nagpunta po kami dito para magbigay ng tulong pinansiyal nang sa gayon ay magka-access sa gamot ang mag-asawang Fernandez. Napakamahal ng gamot na kailangan ng kanilang mga anak at nais nating matulungan ang mag-asawa," Roxas said.

He promised to facilitate and pay for the Surfactan injectibles requirement of the quintuplets, which JRMMC acting Director Emmanuel Montana said was necessary for the complete development of the babies' lungs.

Fr. Tony Labiao from the St. Peter Parish in Quezon City baptized the babies at the NICU, where two of the babies share an incubator. The babies were baptized Korina Ysabel, Maria Loralaine, Melodie Frances, Sarah Erika and Wenna Mavinia.

Roxas said he was awed when he learned that Lorita and Gary named two of their babies after him and Sanchez after watching the noontime show "Wowowee" where the senator and the broadcaster first confirmed their engagement.

"Magandang surpresa po sa amin na malamang pinangalanang Korina at Maria ang dalawa sa limang bata. Natuwa ang puso namin kaya kami nagpunta dito," Roxas said.

He added: "Kami po ay nagbibigay ng moral support at siyempre, iba pang suporta, sa mag-asawang sina Lori at Gary. Malaking tagumpay ang nakamit nila nung ipinanganak ang kanilang mga babies, 5 in 1 ito."

Sanchez vowed moral support for the Fernandez family, saying: "Ngayong ninong at ninang na kami, hanggang katandaan na ito."

Lorita Fernandez was in tears as she expressed her gratitude to the couple and to the other Good Samaritans who have been visiting her at the hospital, pledging and giving support - financial and others - for the quintuplets.

"Maraming, maraming, maraming salamat po sa lahat ng tumutulong sa amin, lalo na po kay Senador Mar at kay Ms. Korina sa pagdalaw nila sa akin at sa pagpayag na maging ninong at ninang ng aming mga anak," she said.

Tuesday, April 28, 2009 | posted in gary fernandez, jose reyes memorial medical center, korina sanchez, lorita fernandez, mar roxas, philippines, wowowee | 3 comments [ More ]