'Miracle' at NAIA: Nun gets wallet with P39K back after a year

MANILA -- "Miracles do happen."

This was the statement given by Sister Mary Emilia Lamunda after her wallet containing P39,000 was returned to her almost a year after it was lost.

The wallet was returned to Lamunda by 2 tourism students from Northwestern University in Ilocos who are currently undergoing on-the-job training at the lost and found section of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport's (NAIA) Intelligence and Investigation Division.

Airport Police Corporal Reynon Flores identified the two tourism students-turned-instant detectives as Ninotchka Janine Pascua and Kathlene Joy Bacud.

According to Flores, they instructed Pascua and Bacud to do some public service by doing "detective" work.

Being residents of Ilocos, the two students were given a receipt of a travel agency situated at Vigan, Ilocos Sur and tasked to inquire about a certain Sister Mary Emilia Lamunda of the Benedictine Nuns of Eucharistic King.

Spending their own money and using their detective instincts, Pascua and Bacud were able to locate the nun.

Flores said Lamunda is the owner of a brown wallet containing more than P39,000 cash, which was lost and found by airport janitress Linda Villablanca at NAIA Terminal 3 April last year.

The wallet had been stored at the lost and found section of the airport police.

"God is really good. I never expected to recover the money, but through the help of the two students of Northwestern University, it was returned to me," Lamunda said.

The nun expressed gratitude to the 2 students during the turnover of the wallet.

"Miracles do happen. And I am thankful that all these people are instrumental for the recovery of my long lost wallet. Thank you very much," she said. -- Report from Raoul Esperas