The Antipolo City government led by Mayor Casimiro ‘Junjun’ Ynares III and its officials recognized the bravery of a barangay fire volunteer who was injured during the blaze that hit a residential area in the city in June.
Mayor Ynares said Cristofer Magpusao, a volunteer firefighter of Barangay San Roque, Antipolo City, had shown heroism as a fire volunteer during a blaze that struck a residential and commercial area in Barangay Sta. Cruz on June 16.
Ynares added that Magpusao exemplified the true resiliency and strength in his work as a volunteer fireman.
“Nakilala ko ang isang bayani ng Antipolo na nagpakita ng tunay na katatagan… Nadisgrasya siya nung magresponde sila sa isang sunog sa Barangay Sta. Cruz nitong Hunyo (I met a hero of Antipolo who showed true resilience. He met an accident when they responded to a fire in Barangay Sta. Cruz this June)
During the Monday flag raising ceremony at the city hall, Ynares, in the presence of Vice Mayor Josefina Gatlabayan and the city officials, including San Roque Barangay Chairman Leandro “Anding” Cabasbas, who is the immediate superior of Magpusao, officially congratulated the fire volunteer and gave him a plaque of recognition and a check amounting to ₱10,000 as a token of appreciation of the city government for his heroic deed.
Antipolo City Mayor Casimiro Ynares III and Cristofer Magpusao during a ceremony in front of the Antipolo City Hall on July 1, 2024 (Photo from Jun-Andeng Ynares' Facebook page)
“Alam namin na hindi sapat ang P10,000 para sa ginawa mo para sa ating mga kababayan pero sana ay maramdaman mo ang aming pagkilala, paghanga at pagpapahalaga sa pinakita mong malasakit sa ating mga kababayan ( We know that P10,000 is not enough for what you did for the sake of our fellow residents, but I hope you will feel our recognition, admiration and appreciation for the care you have shown for our fellowmen), Ynares added.
Antipolo City officials led by Mayor Casimiro "Junjun" Ynares III (in red shirt) and Vice Mayor Josefina Gatlabayan (right), led city government officials in a recognition ceremony citing Magpusao's heroic acts (photo from Jun-Andeng Ynares' Facebook page)
The mayor said that with Magpusao’s bravery, he hoped that there will be more like him who will be willing to sacrifice for others.
It was learned that the June 16 fire incident this year where his arm and elbows sustained fracture, was the second time that Magpusao was injured while responding to a fire scene.
On April 22, 2022, Magpusao, while attempting to rescue a person who was inside a burning house in Sitio Lucban in Barangay Dela Paz, due to suffocation, collapsed and became unconscious, leaving his co-fire volunteers to rush him to the hospital.
That incident nearly caused his life as he suffered a mild stroke and had to be confined in a hospital for several times due to complications as a result of his health condition, according to his relatives.
As the country was then under the state of public health emergency due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the hospital only allowed one person to accompany the patient at one time, leaving the fire volunteer’s family members, including his nieces and nephews to take turns in attending to him at the hospital.
“Nagpapasalamat ako nang marami kay Mayor Jun (Ynares) at sa city government at pati na rin kay Kapitan Anding (Cabasbas) dahil sa pagkilala nila sa nangyari sa akin (I am grateful to Mayor Jun and the city government, including Chairman Anding for the recognition),” Magpusao told the Manila Bulletin.
At present, Magpusao is still taking maintenance medication for stroke aside from the medicines that he will continue to take due to his recent injury.