A news clip about the Hagonoy fire which happened on the eve of August 18, 2010.
From gmanews.tv
This news article was taken from ABSCBNnews.com
Fire guts public market in Hagonoy
abs-cbnNEWS.com
Posted at 08/19/2010 8:31 AM | Updated as of 08/19/2010 9:10 AM
MANILA, Philippines - Fire razed the public market in Hagonoy, Bulacan Wednesday night, destroying an estimated P15 million-P20 million worth of property and affecting the livelihoods of 300 market vendors.
Fire officials said the fire started at 7:30 p.m. and quickly razed a large portion of the market. It also destroyed 5 houses near the market.
Fire Superintendent Absalon Sipadan, chief of the Hagonoy fire department, said the fire had reached the second alarm by 8 p.m. after local firemen could not contain the blaze. He said the local fire department has only 2 fire trucks, both of which are already old.
He said fire trucks from neighboring towns arrived to help put out the fire.
Governor Wilhelmino Sy-Alvarado said the public market has been in place for the past 25 years.
Firefighters have yet to determine what started the fire.
If you wanted some additional videos... you can visit my profile's links in Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/lizbeth.perlas?v=app_2309869772
This photo is a courtesy from my childhood friend who lived near the area.
The building that you see unaffected is our Botica and Clinic.
We were relieved to see that none of our property was caught on fire.
CALOOCAN, AUGUST 18, 2010, 8:45 PM
As usual I was going home late from school, when I saw my papa and Ate Tina (our helper) hastily going out of the house and going straight to the car. Without much of a question, they just randomly said... "The market is on fire..."
I stopped. What market?
"The market in Hagonoy was on fire," my papa said
"How did you know?"
"Mother called-up," Ate Tina said.
"Does fire often happen in there?" My grandma said out of the blue, butting-in our small conversation as always.
"Yes," papa said.
"No." I emphasized, contradicting my father. "It only happened now," I don't know why they would always say that Hagonoy was a terrible place. Was it? I guess not. I grew up there, and therefore knew every corner of that little town, I even know the people living there, I just don't like their accusing tones that it is a bad place. I just hate hate them for saying and thinking such things. A lowly province, that's what they usually say.
When my father was heading out, My grandma was worried for his safety. I wished him to take care of himself and avoid trouble. And for a moment there, I suddenly felt tinge of envy in my heart, like I wanted to tell my papa seeing how worried grandma is... It's a good thing your mother is alive, mine isn't anymore.
I tried not to think about it that night. That's my way dealing with stress. Before I went to bed, I just uttered my prayers, begging God to never harm anybody and keep everyone safe.
CALOOCAN, AUGUST 19, 2010, 8:OO AM
I woke up, papa and ate Tina returned early in the morning. the television was on, and the news about the fire was being reported, somehow, a part of me didn't dare to watch. Papa heated a cheeseburger for me when I reached the dining room. and while I ate my breakfast, he started to talk about last night's events. By the tone of his voice, he was like a little boy telling his mother a story. I listened with little interest, maybe because of my anxiety levels coming up. Drinking some hot chocolate, there were lots of things that I wanted to ask him.
He kept mentioning a lot of people, I know them, but they aren't the people whom I want to know. I wanted to ask "How's Pappy??" "Is he safe??" "Did you see him?" "Was he there fighting along side the firemen?" "Did you talk?" "I know he should be there, because the botica might be on fire too..."
Pappy is my grandfather from my mother's side. After my mother died, papa seem to have cut all the ties we had with my mother's relatives, and even moved us to the city. And it has been years since I haven't come home.
After mustering up courage, I asked him. "Did you see Pappy?"
He looked away from me or rather I looked away from him when he answered "I didn't see him"
Impossible.
It was only through ate Tina that I knew when I asked her the same question. She replied "He was there, trying to protect the botica..."
"Is he alright?"
"Yes he is..."
I am relieved.
I opened up Facebook, and saw various videos on my homepage. Then I saw Reizelle and Robin's post about the fire that happened last night. So I happened to watched one video and watched in horror the flames which engulfed the whole market place. I shared the video, until my childhood friend saw my post and commented "muntikan nga talaga kayo" (you were really close)
I chatted him online, and then he told me about the recent events. Israel's house stood in front of a wide river which separated their house and the burning public market. He recalled that he was sitting at the roof of their house when the incident happened. The wind was blowing towards their direction so the atmosphere is really hot. It was really like hell.
In the video he showed me, the whole town is noisy, there were sirens everywhere, but what sent chills to me was the sound of the bells from sta. Ana's shrine. For me, the bell symbolizes the voice of our town. Growing up in the area, the bells would always ring with every occasion it witnesses. It's tone varies from happy to sad. This time, it's tone was alarming. It was like st. Anne herself crying for help towards the heavens.
After catching up with him (lol, we haven't talked for years until now), I told him that I wanted to come back home. its been a year since I haven't come back, but still, I still long for the days to come back and visit the place I grew up. I told him "wala na, sira na ung playground ko nung bata pa ako" (my playground is already destroyed) and he just agreed with me.
After that, I tried to call Pappy before I went to school yesterday. When I heard his voice, also Mommy's (my grandmother from mother's side) I almost cried in relief. I was fighting my tears from relief that they are safe. I was like Thank God! Nothing happened to you!!!
"How are you?" I asked eagerly.
"We're fine" Mommy answered.
"Where are you?"
"In the botika..."
"Was it destroyed?"
"No, except for a few broken windows and glass... your papa went here last night, didn't he?"
"he did," I answered "Papa said that the clinic didn't get destroyed, it was as if, mama was protecting it,"
"Bittle!" mommy exclaimed "please come home! we already miss you."
"I wan't to, but I can't right now... " I glanced at the clock, only 10 minutes and classes will start. "I need to go to school, please do take care of yourself. I love you both."
and with that I hung up, checked my balance... Oh... only 5.50 remained...
Aww...
At least they are safe.
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