Acting Cebu City Mayor Edgardo Labella (third from left) inspects the scene in sitio Avocado, barangay Lahug, Cebu City. (CDN PHOTO/LITO TECSON)
The victims of last Saturday’s fire in barangay Lahug are trying to find reason for the loss of their homes and belongings especially in this time of merriment.
Elisio Gulfen, Jr. said he was supposed to have a double celebration this week. He will be celebrating his 62nd birthday on New Year’s Day.
“Sakit kaayo ang nahitabo namo. Ambot mag-unsa mi ani inig New Year. Sayang kay birthday pud unta nako karong January 1 dungan gyud sa selebrasyon sa bag-ong tuig (What happened to us was very painful. We don’t know what we are going to do this New Year. It’s sad because I will be celebrating my birthday on January 1),” Gulfen told Cebu Daily News in an interview yesterday.
Gulfen’s family is among the 175 families affected by the fire that razed at least 100 houses in sitio Avocado, barangay Lahug, Cebu City last Saturday evening.
Gulfen was at the basketball court when the blaze started.
“Pista man gud gahapon sa Sagrada Familia. Didto ko sa basketball-an nag preparar kay opisyal man ko diha sa kapilya (I was at the basketball court. I was preparing for the feast day of the Sagrada Familia because I am one of the officers of our chapel),” Gulfen said.
The two-story house of Gulfen was destroyed in the fire.
“Akong nasalbar ang ako ra gyud mga papeles. Akong gisigurado akong CPU og akong printer. Gikuha gyud nako kay graphic artist man ko; mao man akong panginabuhian (I saved my important documents, and I made sure to get my CPU and printer because I am a graphic artist. That is my source of income),” Gulfen added.
No one was hurt among the family members of Gulfen.
“Paghitabo, akong pag-umangkon natulog sa kwarto. Kaluoy sa Diyos, complete paman mi; walay naunsa namo (When the incident happened, only my niece was inside the house. Thank God, no one was hurt in our family),” Gulfen said.
Gulfen’s family has been living in sitio Avocado since 1989. Gulfen said he had no idea yet on where to go.
“Dili pud mi ganahan makahasol sa uban namong parenti. Naa man gyuy rason. Basta naay unos, motuang mana. Iya man ning kabubot-on, dawaton nato basin naa diay Siyay laing plano (We do not want to be a burden to our other relatives. I believe there is a reason for everything. Maybe, God has other plans for us),” Gulfen added.
Glena Arsolon also lost her house to Saturday’s fire.
With the loss of her house, she also lost her family’s source of income.
“Ugdaw gyud among balay. Naa pud untay mga nag-abang pud didto. Ang bayad sa abang kay mao unta among source of income (Our house was razed. We had boarders in our house. The rent was supposed to be our source of income),” Arsolon said.
Arsolon, together with her family, is temporarily staying in one of the 17 classrooms of Lahug Elementary School where the fire victims are sheltered.
Her house was near the area where the fire started.
“Made of light materials among balay, maong dali ra gyud kaayo nakaon sa kayo. TV ra gyud tawon among nasalbar (Our house is made of light materials, that’s why it was easily razed by the fire. Among our things, we were only able to save our TV),” Arsolon added.
They already had plans for their New Year celebration but they also lost their money during the fire.
Another fire victim, Angel Limpag, couldn’t stop crying as she recounted her experience.
She said what happened to them is another challenge.
Limpag failed to save most of her belongings because she was trying her best to save her paralyzed father.
Her nephew, who is the bread winner of the family, said they don’t know what to do and hope that they will receive help.
“Naa man gyuy rason ang tanan. Pagka karon, dili palang gyud nato matugkad og unsa ang rason. Pero someday, makatugkad ra gyud tas rason nganong gihimo na Niya (There is always a reason for everything. Maybe, right now, I don’t know the reason, but I know someday I will realize why this thing happened to us),” said Limpag.