By DIANN IVY CALUCIN
The son of the 41-year-old mother who died with her four-year-old son in the fire incident in Navotas City that left around 516 families homeless last Monday, Nov. 14, appealed for financial assistance.
"Wala pong natira sa bahay namin. Pati po 'yong mga gamit namin, kahit isang piraso, wala po kaming naisalba (There is nothing left in our house. Even our belongings, not even a piece, we didn't save anything)," Calvin Dave Francisco, the eldest son of Theresa Lopez, who was among the five deceased victims in the residential fire at Cardoniga St. Barangay Bagumbayan North (BBN), told Manila Bulletin on Wednesday, Nov. 16.
He said their house was completely burned and they were not able to save anything other than the clothes they were wearing at the time.
Francisco has evacuated to their barangay hall along with his household including his live-in partner, his two children, two siblings, and his father. He said his family needs money to recover from the fire.
"Para sa paninimula po ulit namin ng bagong buhay kasi wala naman pong natira sa bahay namin. Kami lang po ng tatay ko ang nagtratrabaho sa pamilya (For us to start a new life again because there is nothing left in our house. My father and I are the only ones working in the family)," said Francisco.
According to Francisco, when the fire occurred, he and his father Virgilio Francisco were working and his siblings were in school.
Francisco's live-in partner also went out with their two children to visit her parents who live in the same barangay.
According to his live-in partner, Theresa and the four-year-old child were watching a basketball game at the basketball court when she left them.
After watching the basketball game, Francisco said his mother probably went home to put his brother to sleep.
"Pinapatulog niya po 'yong bunso namin ng mga ganoong oras, siguro po nakatulog na rin po siya tapos nangyari naman po 'yong sunog (She usually puts my youngest brother to sleep, maybe she also had fallen asleep and then the fire happened)," Francisco added.
He said he received a phone call from his partner informing him of a fire in their area.
From work, Francisco rushed home in an attempt to rescue his mother and brother but was stopped by the authorities to go inside the fire incident because the fire was already big and electricity wires were blocking the way to their house.
"Dapat po ay isasalba niya 'yong mag ina ko pero hindi na po talaga kaya, inawat na po siya ng mga tao kasi masyadong malakas na po ang apoy (He tried to save them but he really couldn't, the people had stopped her from going because the fire was strong)," his father said.
His father also stated he was able to identify the bodies despite the severe burns caused by the fire.
He added that he refused for an autopsy because he was sure that the bodies found belonged to his wife and son.
Initial reports said that the body of Theresa Lopez was found in the bedroom of their house along with her four-year-old son.
Francisco said the local government has been providing for their needs.
"Tuloy tuloy naman po ang dating ng tulong. Tulad ngayon, nagpaabot po ulit sila ng tulong dito. Marami na po ang nagpapadala ng tulong nila dito (We have been receiving help. Today, they extended help again. Many people have already sent their help here)," Francisco said.
But they said the financial help they are receiving and salaries from their jobs as construction workers are not enough to find a place to live again and to buy their daily necessities because all their possessions were consumed by the fire.
Francisco and his father called on the public for financial assistance. They said any amount would help them especially now that they have nothing.
Francisco gave their Gcash number for cash donations: 09454737918
"Humihingi po sana kami ng tulong pinansyal pati na rin po 'yong mga kasamahan namin dito na nasunugan din (We are asking for financial help as well as the other victims with us here whose houses were also burned)," Francisco said.