Despite losing all their family belongings, including important documents and savings kept in their house in the fire that hit Malate, Manila last May 7 and which he helped put out, fire volunteer John Justin Gagarin, 19, said he has no regrets fulfilling the call of duty.
In an interview with Manila Bulletin, Gagarin, who became viral when he was seen battling the fire while crying because among the 50 houses that were bieng razed last May 7, one was his family's.
Gagarin said he had to do his job as a firefighter even after finding out that their own house was also being engulfed by the fire. It took a lot of strength and fortitude for Gagarin to continue training his water hose on the other burning homes while seeing his own house being gutted.
“Wala po akong pagsisisi, kasi wala naman pong mangyayari kung tutunganga lang po ako. Mas lalo lang din po kakalat ang sunog kapag hindi ko ginampanan ang katungkulan ko (I have no regrets because nothing will happen if I just stare and don't act just because our house was also being consumed by the fire. The blaze will only spread more if I didn't do my duty),” Gagarin said.
He said he and his family lost everything they worked hard for as well as their important documents and the money that he saved and kept inside the house.
Despite the tragedy, he is still thankful because no one in his family was hurt.
Gagarin's family is now renting a house near their burned house and trying to get a fresh start.
“[Ngayon] nangungupahan na po kami, ‘di naman po gaanong kalayuan sa sariling bahay namin na nasunog po. Kino-consider ko po na kami ay bumabangon na po [ngayon ng] paunti-unti pagkatapos ng trahedyang nangyari (Now we are renting not far from our own house that burned down. We are now starting over, little by little, after the tragedy),” he said.
Gagarin thanked those who were touched by his story and who offered to help his family start over.
"Lubos po akong nagpapasalamat sa mga taong taos pusong nag-abot ng kanilang tulong [sa amin], dahil dito kami ay nakakabangon paunti-unti. Isa na po d’yan si sir Bayani Agbayani ng TUPAD at ang brigada ko po na Leveriza-Malate Fire and Rescue Volunteer (I am very grateful to the people who have extended their help to us because it gives us a chance to recover little by little. Sir Bayani Agbayani of TUPAD is one of them and my brigade, the Leveriza-Malate Fire and Rescue Volunteer),” he said.
Gagarin is just one of the many firefighters and fire volunteers who are putting their lives on the line while putting out fires.
Despite the dangers, Gagarin, at his young age, said he values his work so much.
"Pinapahalagahan ko ang pagiging fire volunteer katulad ng pagpapahalaga ko sa mga taong nakapaligid sa akin at mas mahal ko ang trabaho ko kesa sarili ko kaya nga dito pa lang napapatunayan ko talagang tungkulin muna bago ang sarili ko (I value my job as much as I value the people around me, and I love my job more than myself, and it only proves that "duty comes before self"),” he said.
Gagarin reminded his fellow firefighters to always be careful whenever there is a fire and to love and be loyal to their sworn service.
Meanwhile, the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) said that the cause of the fire that reached the second alarm at the corner of Benitez and San Andres Streets in Malate is still being investigated.
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