Heroic deeds not new to him

For Lito Lumbana, a cook, it was just an “extension” to the call of duty. He never dreamed of getting recognition for saving a boy from drowning. In fact, it was his third time to play hero.

Lumbana, 37, of Easy Kitchen Restaurant in Garapan, was among three men who were awarded by the Department of Public Safety for their heroic deed when they rescued two boys from drowning at Micro Beach on March 18, 2006.

Unknown to many of his friends, it was Lumbana’s third time to save a person from drowning. The first was when he was a grade schooler back home; the second time was at Laulau Beach in 1993.

When the Micro Beach incident happened, many wondered how a cook had the requisite skill to apply CPR on the boy, who was then fighting for his life.

Lumbana, though, is not a mere cook. He is actually a certified first aid provider as he used to work as a seaman-cook. For nine years, he had traveled to many countries as such and the job required him to learn how to apply CPR.

He recalled that March 18 was a beautiful morning at Micro Beach. He was with his three-year-old son Li at the beachside near Hyatt Hotel for a walk.

The morning’s calm was suddenly shattered when Lumbana heard shouting and saw two men running and jumping into the water. The two men—Ronald Chisato and Ono Harumitsu—grabbed two boys from the water.

Harumitsu immediately applied CPR on the youngest boy while still in the water. Lumbana told his son to stay behind as he waded into the water to help Chisato, who was then carrying the second boy to shore.

Lumbana placed the boy on the sand where he placed him sideways so he could vomit the water. Lumbana then immediately applied CPR. Moments later, the boy started coughing and spat out the water.

“I was so happy because I knew the boy will be fine,” he said.

The two victims regained their breathing, just in time as medics then arrived and transported them to the Commonwealth Health Center.

Witnesses said the two victims were with their other minor brother, mother and grandmother at the Hyatt Hotel beachside.

Two days after the Saipan Tribune came out with the story about the rescue, then DPS Commissioner Ernest Mark Williams and Boating Safety Unit chief Sgt. Juan Diaz visited the shop of Windsurfing Saipan Inc. located at Hyatt Beach, where the officials handed certificates of appreciation to Chisato and Harumitsu.

The following morning, Williams and DPS spokesman Ken Concepcion proceeded to Easy Kitchen to hand the certificate of appreciation to Lumbana.

“I’m so happy with the recognition. I did not expect it,” Lumbana said.

That night, Lumbana was touched when the Chinese mother of the boy whom he had saved visited the restaurant. The visibly happy mother tightly shook his hands and thanked him for saving the life of her son.

The mother also informed him that her two sons were in good condition. He learned from her that her husband—a Japanese businessman—was off-island when the incident occurred. Before leaving the restaurant, she gave Lumbana a cash reward.

The cook recalled that in 1993 he also saved the life of a Japanese female diver who was stranded in the rough waters at Laulau Beach. His heroic deed was not reported in the media.

The first time he rescued a person from drowning was back in his native Quezon City, Philippines. He was in grade school at that time when one of his classmates nearly drowned in a swimming pool.

Taught to swim at the early age of eight, Lumbana dove to the rescue and pulled his classmate to safety.

Lumbana, however, is not one to be smug about his deeds. Asked whether he would do the same again if faced with a similar incident, the seaman-turned-cook immediately replied, “It’s a duty. …I am thinking, what if my kids will be in the same situation?”

When not rescuing drowning victims, Lumbana concentrates on his work and in taking care of his wife and three-year-old son, Li, and nine-month-old baby, Eli. This early, he has already begun teaching his boy to swim. And Li is certainly in good hands, having witnessed his father play hero once again.