MANILA, Philippines – The mood at the proclamation rally of Team PNoy was generally upbeat except for a minor accident that involved bleeding from the head and an emergency trip to the hospital.

Occidental Mindoro Vice Gov Mario Gene Mendiola fell off the stage during the intermission of singer Ding Dong Avanzado, a 6-foot drop that resulted in Mendiola bleeding from the head. Mendiola was reportedly using his phone and did not notice that the curtain he was leaning on had no wall behind it.

He lay on the ground for 10 minutes as he waited for an ambulance. He stayed conscious.

Upon hearing the news, President Benigno Aquino III left the stage temporarily to keep Mendiola company. According to campaign spokesperson Miro Quimbo, Aquino “essentially kept him awake” until the ambulance arrived.

Mendiola was then rushed to the Philippine General Hospital. He was later moved to San Juan de Dios.

Quimbo said Mendiola is okay except for a 4-inch laceration on his head and back pains.

He called the event unfortunate, but said that aside from that, the event was successful and turned out exactly what they expected.

“What won’t kill you will make you stronger,” he said. – Rappler.com