Dapat Ready | Malabon fire: ‘I didn’t recognize the place’

By Kevin Gaitan, Internal and Advocacy Communications Specialist

“I was saddened, I was shocked. I left home and everything was fine that day, I never thought that this [fire] would happen. I can’t even recognize the place,” narrates 16-year-old Heart.

I found Heart in a middle of a rubble, hunching over what was left of their home. He was busy clearing their char-filled floor. His family’s house is one of the many that were consumed by the raging fire on February 8, displacing more than 10,000 children and families in Malabon City.

“We saved nothing. I only have my uniform and other school materials that I brought with me that day.”

Heart adds, “I was in school when the fire started. My teacher called my attention and informed me not to go home and go to my aunt’s house instead.”

Heart’s father works as a messenger. His mother is a housewife who owns a small poultry in and manages a small computer shop to augment the family’s income. None of these investments were left.

The fire’s fury left the community barren.

Moving forward

It was a little after noontime. The scorching heat was unbearable, the stench of the burning plastics and house-wood was strong, and the broken pipes were bursting with overflowing water. But the urban community people were unmoved by the hot weather. They were keen to rebuild their homes, scavenging on what the fire has left for them, looking for something that may be of use.

Despite his family’s losses, Heart is grateful that his family is safe. “I thank the Lord that all of us are in good condition. I am also thankful that the people understand our situation and they are willing to help.” Heart is one of the 1,500 World Vision-assisted children in Malabon.

World Vision, in the next days will be distributing relief items in the fire-affected communities.World Vision/February 13, 2017