San Juan, QC fire victims picking up the pieces after tragedy

Over 1,000 families rendered homeless by the two fires that hit San Juan and Quezon City communities on Christmas Day could do nothing but look at 2013 with hope. In San Juan, amid the stench of urine and sweat, fire victims line up outside a gymnasium that has become their temporary shelter to receive relief goods given by the local city government and private donors. It's almost the same in Quezon City, where GMA News Online witnessed two families and three individuals cramped in a tiny room at the barangay hall. In all likelihood, they would spend the New Year there.   Interviewed, the evacuees could not help but become teary-eyed as they recalled what happened.

“Tumalon na lang ako sa baba,” said Jovencio Pulinar Jr., narrating how he survived the inferno in Barangay Bungad in Project 7 by breaking the glass window of their 2nd floor apartment using a cooking pan before jumping. “Hindi ko iniisip na mataas. Ang iniisip ko maluluto na ako.” Like many survivors, Jovencio was not able to bring any valuables. “Kahit dalhin ‘yung cellphone, wallet at pera hindi ko na naisip,” he said. Seven people died in the Quezon City fire, one of them was Jay-R Palayo, whom Jovencio said he tried—but failed—to rescue. “Tumalon din sa kabilang unit si Jay-R. Hindi ko na siya natulungan… Hinila ko siya ng konti kaya lang sobrang bigat niya saka nung pagtalon niya parang nauna ‘yung tuhod niya, hindi na siya makalakad, gumagapang na lang. Puro sunog na rin ‘yung katawan niya,” he said. The other fatalities in the incident were Jay-R's parents, sister, nieces and a house help. “Positive lang” Despite having to spend the rest of the holiday season in evacuation centers, the resilience of Filipinos is still evident. “Kahit na nagkaroon ng ganito, mag-hope pa rin tayo na magiging maganda ang susunod na taon,” Cecilia Magdalena Santos, one of the San Juan fire victims, told GMA News Online. “Dapat positive lang.” “Sa ngayon po na ganyan, meron pa rin po diyang magpapaputok kahit ganito ang nangyari sa amin… Dahil nga po ganyan ang lugar namin, may binigay po sa aming lugar para magpaputok, sa Pinaglabanan Shrine po,” Santos added.   According to sociologist and psychologist, the Filipinos' optimism after a tragedy or disaster roots from their religious belief.   “Pinoys see life as naturally hard so [they] develop appropriate attitudes toward tragedies,” Dr. Raul Pertierra, sociologist, told GMA News online via text. “Pinoys see life as inherently meaningful hence tragedies are part of the divine plan.”   Relational life coach and GMA consultant psychologist Ali Gui concurred: “Because of our strong faith in God, we became hopeful people… [We] always hope for a better tomorrow.”   Even surveys agree on Filipino’s optimism. A recent Social Weather Stations survey showed that nine out of 10 Filipinos are looking forward to 2013 with hope. Bayanihan Although lives were taken, many were saved, thanks to bayanihan, a Filipino spirit of communal unity or effort to achieve a particular objective created.   “Nagbayanihan po kami roon [para makaligtas]. Hindi na po talaga makatawid sa gate po kasi malaki na po ‘yung apoy.” noted Pulinar.   He recalled that one of the apartment's tenant brought out a ladder so they can escape the fire that started in the first apartment’s first unit near the gate. They used the ladder to cross the roof to the adjacent establishment.   “Pina-una po ‘yung babae at mga bata,” he said. In San Juan, at least 500 houses were razed in the pre-dawn fire, killing one man. (The Bureau of Fire Protection clarified that the other reported fatality was due to stabbing, not the fire.)   BFP noted that a lighted candle that was left unattended caused the fire in San Juan, while electrical overload started the fire in Quezon City. Firefighters' travails   Although the fire station in San Juan was just a few meters away from where the incident took place, the Fire Protection Bureau noted that their fire trucks could not get inside the compound’s alleyways.   San Juan City Fire Marshall Gilbert Dolot told GMA News Online that the rowdy crowd added to their problems during the fire-fighting operations.   “Nung nasa kalagitnaan tayo ng fire fighting operations, hindi makontrol ‘yung mga tao kasi maraming lasing, nagwawala. Sinasaktan ‘yung mga bumbero tapos pinagbababasag ‘yung [salamin] ng fire truck,” he said.   The fire reached general alarm – the highest fire signal.   “Umatras tuloy ‘yung mga volunteer kasi natakot, then ‘yung mga parating pa nating mga fire trucks na tutulong hindi na natuloy,” Dolot added.   The San Juan City fire marshall noted that if the crowd had cooperated, the fire’s damaged could have been lessened. “Ang sana kung walang nangyaring kaguluhan, nananakit, nambabato, sana naagapan natin [yung sunog] at hindi na lumaki ang damage.”   To this, Dolot noted that the incident highlighted the public’s responsibility during a firefight. He said this coming New Year celebration, as preparation against fire, the public must be ready with their fire extinguisher and container full of water. — KBK, GMA News