14 August 2008, 2.10pm - I have not officially gone up my floor (midway
of Central Park) when the Fire Department has declared our building on
‘Fire Out.’
I was only in my Bench undies, when a strong stench
of burnt whachamacallit pervaded into my room while panic shouts
reverberated around as if I was on Titanic. I heard panting, wailing,
screaming just outside. For a second I thought it might just be one of
those condominium unit fires limited within someone’s confines. (This
brought me to my former officemate’s experience last year when he
exactly felt a similar thing when their boarding house burned down.
Now, I really know how it feels). But on second thoughts, it might be
serious given the reaction of people. So I peeped out, and to my real
horrors, all I saw was thick black smoke billowing within the lobby.
The lobby floor was already wet because the men around the area helped
to put out the fire using their units’ water supply.
I quickly
grabbed a soiled t-shirt and shorts, grabbed my wallet and two cellular
phones, took a last look at my unit and opened the windows because it
was so smoky already.
My next-door neighbor, a woman in her 50s,
came out shouting, was about to knock on my door (nice lady for doing
so), and asked everyone to leave. I checked the lobby and looked out of
the grills to see the upper floors. There were smoke and fire coming
out of the upper floors. Our floor lobby itself was in soot, and it was
surely hot, not warm.
We thought for a moment, all will be well,
but the shouts didn’t stop, and the smoke enveloped us on our floor. It
was time to make that important run.
I rushed out of my wing
fire exit, to my joy, it was abandoned, so it was easier for me to run
down. At this point, I made a quick SOS text to my closest family and
friends. Just so they know in case I won’t come out alive. However, I
knew I’d survive it. What went into my head at this point was: wow,
disasters do happen to any of us, and it can happen so quickly.
Kuya
V called in first, he was on my phone while I ran down the fire exit
that ended on the third floor level. I came out to the building edge
with only the emergency veranda hang. I looked up and some debris were
falling, there was no time to linger. However, on my peripheral vision,
I saw heads bobbing up from the high concrete fence - the guys from the
adjacent slum area. They were merely watching - as if it was some grand
spectacle.
And then it was time to make a decision - to leap
down or not and be caught with the falling debris. There was an
emergency railing that was suspended, perhaps two floors from the
ground. There were spectators looking at me - perhaps secretly cheering
me on to jump - and be safe from fire but not safe from harm’s way.
I
first asked Kuya V to hold the call as I jump. And boy did I jump. I
landed perfectly, without pain. Thanks to my jumping training over at
the Dagani’s house way back in Butuan. We would jump from their house’s
second level down to the ground outside. We loved doing this when we
were young, feeling like the superheroes from the Justice of League.
Hay
thank Heaven’s I wasn’t hurt. I even laughed at myself, telling Kuya V
I landed safely. It probably was the adrenaline rush that allowed me
such daredevil.
But while I was walking away, I looked up and
sobbed. It all dawned on me that I just survived a real tragedy. And
the Lord led me to safety.
Texts messages came in - three
friends and my brother all first thought it might just be some fire
drills. But they realized eventually it was all real.
I thank
all my family members, friends, former officemates who called in and
texted their genuine concern - inquiring about my safety and needs.
They all prayed for me and I thank them from the bottom of my heart: I
love you all! I feel really blessed to ave you all. Thank you for the
concern, the offer of support and comfort and prayers.
I stayed
at the gate, and the firefighters came in quickly. It was also the
chance of scavengers (thiefs) to sneak in, taking advantage of the
tragedy of people. Surely, things were lost. Hopefully mine are all
intact. I have not gone up yet as I am writing this story.
Let
me thank the Lord for the firefighters who were quick in responding to
our situation. I saw first the Pasay City firefighters, also the
Chinese volunteer firefighters. Im sure the makati firefighters
responded quickly,too. A friend of mine driving on EDSA texted me to
say EDSA littered with fire trucks - then he realized all those were
driving towards our place. Thank you very much, firefighters! We owe
you so much!
A few minutes after, ABSCBN came with their big
cameras to cover the incident. They stayed on for a long time. Both
cameramen looked very familiar - and why not - they were the gentlemen
crew of journalist Ces Drilon- the three of the, Ces included, were
abducted by the Abu Sayyaf in Basilan and freed just quite recently.
I
waited outside, just like how the residents did. Only a handful were
able to grab their things out. Everyone looked sad but hopeful.
There
was a lot of commotion and shouting just outside our front lobby.
Theories as to how the fire started spread like wildfire. The most
common was that it started from the trash bin. If this was so, how
stupid and inconsiderate of that smoking person to have thrown in
his/her lighted cigarette butt. Crazy world, but crazier people.
If the fire started around 11am, fire out was called before 2pm. But I heard that the upper floors still had some smoke.
Up till this writing, I have not gone up to check my unit and things because it still smells awful and its wet all over.
But I thank the Lord. Praise God for, hopefully, everyone’s safe. Lives are more important than things.
Thank you, Lord God, for I, we, survived a condominium fire unscathed.
I love you, Lord! I really do.
