Ozone Disco survivor: ‘We’ve moved on but it’s good to know justice has been served’

Eighteen years after the Ozone Disco tragedy which claimed 162 lives, the Court has found the owners and some Quezon City officials guilty for the Anti Graft and Corrupt practices act.

 

In an interview on GMA's “Quick Response Team” on Thursday, Ozone survivor Sherilyn Bruan who is also currently a production manager with GMA Network shared her story.

 

Bruan was 18 years old and a second year college student when she and two cousins went to the Ozone Disco on the night tragedy struck.
 

“Nung nagpunta kami dito maraming tao at malapit kami sa bar na malapit sa pinto naka upo noon. May nakita kaming sunog na gumapang sa dance floor tapos nakita namin 'yung ibang tao nagkakagulo na,” she said.

 

Bruan said that it took a while before they realized that the club was on fire. When they saw it they immediately ran to the establishment's only exit.

 

“Kasi yung ambiance sa disco ay maingay at chaotic so hindi namin nakita na may something. Mabuti na lang malapit na kami sa door. Lumabas kami pero ang dami ng tao nagsisikan na 'yung mga tao,” she said.

 

Bruan said she had to squeeze her way towards the exit because the way out was already crowded.
 

“Ang problema naka-sarado 'yung door. Meron kasing mahabang hallway bago ka makapunta sa second door. May first door, tapos pag nakalabas kami doon pero 'yung second door sa pinakadulo nakasarado siya so nastuck yung tao,” she said.

 

Somehow, the door opened and she and her companions were able to crawl out of the burning establishment.

 

“May mga taong natapakan ako, nagapangan hanggang makalabas ako. Naisip ko nu'n dapat makalabas lang ako ng buhay, okay na ako.” Bruan said.

 

“Pagka labas ko sunog na 'yung arms ko tsaka yung likod ko tapos 'yung ibang mga kasama ko pero di ko pa nararamdaman noon 'yung pain until nakarating kami sa emergency room ng hospital,” she added.

 

Although Bruan escaped with her life, she didn't get out unscathed.

 

“Nagkaroon ako ng kelloids sa aking [braso]. Mabuti na lang second degree 'yung natamo ko. Nagheal naman siya eventually pero meron akong mga kelloids na nagform sa kanya,” she said.

 

It has been eighteen years since the tragedy but for Bruan, the news of justice being served was quite welcome.

 

“Kanina nung nalaman ko siya ['yung court decision] narelieve ako na good news siya somehow na naka move on na rin kami individually sa mga buhay namin pero it's good to know na meron palang, after 18 years meron paring justice na na serve doon sa nangyari,” she said. —Andrei Medina/NB, GMA News