TACLOBAN CITY, April 22 -- The Philippine Army has awarded a bronze cross medal to a soldier who died while saving two kids from drowning in Borongan City, Eastern Samar.

Brig. Gen. Noel Vestuir, commander of the Army's 802nd Infantry Brigade, led the awarding of the medal on Sunday to the late Technical Sgt. Samuel Garbo in honor of sacrificing his life to save two children on April 8 in Locsoon village.

Accompanied by other key officials of local army units, Vestuir gave the award to Garbo's family at his wake in Giporlos, Eastern Samar.

"His act of courage and willingness to help others unmindful of his safety embodies the ideals of a true warrior and exemplifies the finest tradition of Filipino soldiery," Vestuir said in a statemen...