At the early age of two, Rocelyn Tabia had been battling cancer, enduring nine chemotherapy sessions. But the brutal effect of her illness was simply too much and she succumbed to the disease around noon on July 9.
“The doctors did everything they can and applied all medical procedures to save the life of my daughter. Unfortunately, she didn’t make it. Her last wish was to see the Philippines, her motherland, where she had never been,” said her sobbing mother, Concepcion, in an interview.
“She only knew the Philippines from her favorite Filipino TV show.”
When her mother realized that Rocelyn was close to death, she asked the girl to wait for her father, who was on his way to the hospital from work.
Rocelyn did wait patiently. When she was finally in her father’s arms, she asked her parents to kiss her hands, after which she said goodbye to them for the final time.
Concepcion, a nursing aide at Dr. Soliman Fakeeh Hospital, said their daughter had been refused admission to several hospitals because they didn’t have at least SR50,000 as a downpayment.
To raise the amount, she and her husband, Rufo Tabia, a pastry baker at La Gourmet in Jeddah, asked their employers for their end-of-service benefits from more than a decade’s worth of work.
With the help of the Filipino community in Jeddah, they were able to raise SR30,000, but the hospitals still would not accept her. The hospital where Rocelyn was initially treated ordered her discharge, even though she had not recovered yet.
Hope was already fading for Rocelyn, until a Saudi businessman they had never met or heard of took pity when he heard of the girl’s plight.
Sheikh Abdullah Ahmed Sayed Bugshan, owner of Bugshan Hospital, paid all of Rocelyn’s hospital bills, which the mother said may have reached SR300,000, or 3.5 million Philippine pesos.
“He is a person with a kind heart. We have never met him. We were just referred to him by one of his employees. Although my daughter didn’t make it, we wish to thank him for giving our daughter an opportunity to live a little longer,” the mother said.
It was Dr. Abdullah Abubaker Baothman, head of the Oncology Department at King Abdulaziz Medical City, who recommended Jocelyn’s case to Sheikh Bugshan.
News about the businessman’s generosity has elicited an outpouring of support among members of the Filipino community, in the Kingdom and elsewhere.
Melinda Rafanan, a nurse from the United States, sent $200 to the girl’s mother. “The Saudi’s generosity should teach us to do the same, especially to our own kababayan (compatriot),” said in an e-mail.
A cargo company was said to have promised to help transport Rocelyn's remains to the Philippines for free.
“Let’s bring her home,” said Redentor Bual, a community leader in Jeddah, whose group had pledged to help the child’s family.
Sylvia delos Santos, a choir director in Jeddah, said: “We feel sorry for the loss of a young and innocent child and we salute the greatness of heart of the philanthropist. May we not forget this humane act and continue to be inspired by his generosity,” she said.
“It is very rare you will find a person of such good heart, helping people, regardless of nationality,” added Antonio Tamo, a Porsche technician from SAMACO who visited the family.
“Rocelyn’s strength comes from her parents’ love and care. She refused to die and never ceased to fight her battle of life, because she wanted to be with her loving parents. It’s an indication of a responsible parenthood,” said Karlia Venessa Anguluan, a pediatric nurse at Dr. Soliman Fakeeh Hospital.
Right now, the family is waiting for the documentation to transport the girl’s body to the Philippines.
Among those who have pledged their support were the PICPA group in the Western Region, the Boholano Community, and the staff and management of Dr. Soliman Fakeeh.
The family can be reached on mobile number 0567709890.
