Some of the victims of the April 26 Tejero fire take temporary shelter at the barangay’s gymnasium. | CDN Digital file photo
CEBU CITY, Philippines — She is not just waiting for help to come, but she is doing what she can to help herself and her community to get more financial assistancefor her fellow fire victims in her own little way .
This is what Lezel Jarina or Zelle, one of the fire victims of last week’s (April 26) Barangay Tejero fire which displaced more than a thousand individuals and destroyed at least 149 houses.
Read more: Tejero chief calls for help as burnt body of woman found in razed house
Jarina, 28, who lost her family’s house and belongings to the fire, has organized together with her friends, Island Vibes and other private sector partners, a fundraising activity for the fire victims.
Jarina said that the event would be called “Heroes of Tejero,” which would happen on May 3, 2019 at the Draft Punk Restaurant along Mango Avenue.
The event be a combination of a garage sale and a pop-up tattoo exhibition paired with music performed by local artists with a special performance of Karencitta.
All proceeds from the tattoo exhibition and garage sale will go directly to the fire victims.
Aside from the garage sale and tattoo exhibition, it will also be a venue to accept donations like dry food, clothing and hygiene kits for the fire victims of Tejero.
Jarina said the idea of the fundraising event came when a friend of hers who was a part of Island Vibes, a group that does events in Cebu, asked her what she could do to help.
She told her about her idea and together with Island Vibes organized and other private partners organized the event.
Jarina never thought that she would lose her home in Barangay Tejero, Cebu City, where she grew up and had lived most of her life.
Read more: P1M lost, 981 individuals displaced as fire in Tejero destroys 149 houses
She recalled that fateful day.
She said she was in Colon Street to run some errands when she heard about the fire in their barangay.
She rushed back and saw their house being gutted by the huge fire.
Read more: PHOTO GALLERY: The fire aftermath in Sitio Silangan, Barangay Tejero
But what she did not mind losing her house to the fire but what mattered most was that her five nieces and nephews were safe because her brother was at work at that time.
When her friends heard about the what happened, they texted her and asked what they could do to help.
It was then that one of her friends from Island Vibes also asked what she could do to help her.
She told her friend what she wanted and that got the ball rolling to organize the fundraising event, “Heroes of Tejero.”/dbs