EVERY kid dreams of becoming a super hero and Yeng Guiao, the multi-titled PBA coach and head mentor of the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters, is no exception.
“When I was a kid, I dreamed of becoming a super hero,” Guiao told The Manila Times.
Growing up and becoming more matured, Guiao started to embrace that being a hero doesn’t mean you have to wear a cape or mask. You don’t even need super powers to become a hero.
Guiao believes anyone can save a life in various circumstances.
“Of course, I knew then, I don’t have a super human strength, but having the know-how to perform CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation) can save lives,” said Guiao.
On the heels of the tragic death of Rene Baterbonia and Divine Adili, two players who got drowned during Ateneo’s team-building session in Aurora, the veteran coach said it is necessary that the Samboy Lim Law should be given more focus.
The Samboy Lim Law was a bill pushed by Guiao when he was still serving as representative of the first district of Pampanga in 2016. The bill passed the Congress and the Senate, but failed to secure approval from then president Noynoy Aquino.
Guiao said it was Sen. Pia Cayetano and then-senator Sonny Angara, who pushed the bill in the Senate.
“They were the ones who pushed for it, the next step of course, was the approval of the president. During that time, it was under the administration of president PNoy, but his term was about to end in weeks, so we were having apprehensions, this bill won’t get his approval,” Guiao recalled.
“Once it was vetoed by the president, it will go back to where it should start, so it means we will be back to square one.”
Fortunately, the bill lapsed into law as the president did not sign or veto it after 30 days.
“It lapsed into law. From Samboy Lim Bill, it became Samboy Lim Law,” added Guiao.
Republic Act 10871, also known as the Samboy Lim Law or the Basic Life Support Training in Schools Act, requires public and private basic education schools to teach cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and basic life support to students.
Speaking in front of doctors, medical practitioners and staff of the Philippine Heart Association in Taguig during the National CPR Day, Guiao felt the need for the Samboy Lim Law to be given utmost priority with the tragic passing of young players of Ateneo during the team-building session serving as eye opener.
“The problem is, the Samboy Lim Law was not given budget allocation,” said Guiao. “Even if was already a law, it wasn’t given budget appropriation, so we and the other partners who pushed for this to become a law, felt bad.”
But there’s light at the end of the tunnel and with stars aligning, it looks like the Samboy Lim Law might be given attention, now that the proponents play a big role in the administration of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.
Lawyer Darlene Berberabe, Lim’s ex-wife and mother of two-time Southeast Asian Games karate gold medalist-turned sportscaster Jaime Lim, was appointed Solicitor General by Marcos.
Former senator Angara, who fought for the bill passed into law in the Senate, now serves as secretary of the Department of Education.
These people who now play key roles under the administration of Marcos are looking to revive the Samboy Lim Law in hope of creating a legacy to the man who was loved and adored by many not just in Philippine basketball but even in major international competitions, but tragically died after a long bout with aneurysm following a cardiac arrest in 2014.
Lim died in 2023, but Guiao believes his name can continue building a legacy through the law that intends to save lives by performing CPR.
“Had this happened now, Samboy might still be alive up to now,” said Guiao. We don’t know when situation such this one will happen, but thru the modern CPR, we are now aware on what we’re going to do. We have to be always ready. This skill stays with you.”
Berberabe, Angara and Guiao, together with the help of the Philippine Heart Association, are pushing for the bill to be given proper budget allocation and they will request it to the Office of the President.
“It may not happen next year, but at least, little by little, it will be given budget appropriation. The good news is, Secretary Angara can set aside budget for that now that he heads the DepEd,” said Guiao.
“We honor the sacrifices of Samboy’s family. We honor Samboy and his family for letting us use his name. It’s going to be boring if we simply call it CPR Law. But the mere fact that we are calling it Samboy Lim Law, we could give honor to him by saving people’s lives through CPR.”
