Filipino nurse pens memoir on rescuing newborns during Sandy

(Editor’s Note: In honor of the National Nurses Month this May 2025, we publish the acceptance speech of Ms. de Luna Sanchez as an awardee of the Global Women Peace Ambassadors on March 1, 2025 accorded by the global women’s organization Women’s Federation for World Peace International at the Philippine Center, NYC. Ms. de Luna hatched a rescue plan for neonates at an NYC hospital at the height of superstorm Sandy. She received a Presidential Award from Pres. Barack Obama on Feb. 12, 2013 for her act of heroism.)

Acceptance Speech as a Global Woman Peace Ambassador (GWAPA) of the Women’s Federation for World Peace International

Ms. Menchu De Luna

Registered Nurse

March 1, 2025

Philippine Center, NYC

Good afternoon, my co- honorees, friends, ladies and gentlemen.

I would like to thank Cristina Pastor and Dr. Marivir  Montebon,  for inviting me as an honoree as an Ambassador for Peace and Mentor for the Young Filipino Peace Ambassadors today. It is an honor to be recognized and appreciated by such a wonderful organization, and I hope to impart to you some inspiration and wisdom from my life experiences.

Menchu de Luna Sanchez giving her acceptance speech.

I would also like to thank my family: my husband Judith, my son Jude, my daughter Michelle and our family dog Moana, whose love and support throughout the years has filled my life with purpose, adventure, happiness and blessings. I am thankful to God, for without Him the pursuit of my life’s calling would be more difficult and without God’s mercy and blessings I would not be here today.

I began my career as a nurse after graduating from Mary Chiles College of Nursing in the Philippines and worked in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia at the King Khalid University Hospital for 10 years. I was fortunate to be able to come to the United States in 1989 to work in the NICU at St. Vincent’s Medical Center, here in New York City until it closed in 2010. From there, I moved to New York University Langone Medical Center, where I also worked in the NICU, Transport Team and The Vascular Access Team.  This is where I was nationally recognized by President Obama at the 2013 State of the Union Address for my actions during Superstorm Sandy, and what began an exciting series of events where I was fortunate to speak to many people here in the United States and also abroad. I also worked at the Mount Sinai Hospital after the events of 2013.

Menchu with Pres. Obama in 2013. (Photo by Asian Journal)

Menchu with co-awardees Dr. Maria Santiago (right) and Dr. Dely Go, along with Amba. Mario de Leon and Ms. Merly Barlaan (left).

During that shift, that night of the storm, the backup generators at NYU Langone had failed and the hospital had to evacuate all the patients to nearby hospitals. We had 20 newborns in the NICU and transporting all of them was a problem because they were so fragile.

The hospital emergency management team was unable to execute the SOP for Plan A, B and C. So, we’re all stuck at the moment until a bright idea (I think) that I suggested to the HEPM Team a rescue plan as an alternative so we can all move forward the 20 precious  newborn babies to safety.

Menchu swiftly acts on an evacuation plan for older patients and neonates at the height of superstorm Sandy. (Photo by TheFilAm)

It was a simple plan but precise and accurate - an evacuation plan from the 9th floor. We suggested that we hand carry the patients with equipment they needed as a team, going down the stairs with monitors, IV lines, heat pads, and other equipment to keep the babies stable while going down nine flight of stairs  by using our cell phone to light our way. I was able to make the trip up and down 4 times and we were able to evacuate all of the patients safely.

This act caught the attention of First Lady Michelle Obama, who then invited me to sit in her box during the State of the Union Address in 2013. To sit between two powerful ladies was an overwhelming feeling.

After the experience in Washington, D.C., I was invited back to the Philippines where I was also honored with Medalya ng Karangalan, the highest honor given to a Quezonian, I was able to return to my hometown of Catanauan, Quezon and speak at the 135th Anniversary of the Manuel Luis Quezon -  Linggo ng Wika Week.

Menchu with FL Michelle Obama and 2nd Lady Jill Biden during Pres. Obama’s State of the Union Address where she received her Presidential recognition in 2013. (A White House photo)

I was invited to appear on talk shows like  Magandang Umaga, Showtime and a Day with Dr. Vicky Belo. Just like what she says, today’s topic is not about the physical beauty but beauty in the heart. I experienced the appreciation and pride of the Filipino people both in our motherland and abroad. The same gratitude I felt then, I feel again with your organization and I thank everyone here for the acknowledgement and honor.

If there is something I would like to pass on from my experiences to the youth and everyone present here today it would be kindness, be respectful, be humble and the best of all is Love.

Thank you again for this honor and God bless us all!