How the weekend fires made a mark in Paco

April 25, 2024

A chair placed on top of the rubble of the fire that razed a commercial area and parts of Paco Catholic School on Saturday, April 20. (Photo by Christian Querol/The Manila Warden) 

On April 20, a Saturday evening that seemed to be normal razed a commercial space behind Paco Catholic School at 8 p.m., raised to a fifth level. A few hours later, a portion of the Philippine General Hospital (PGH) was also gutted. 

According to the Manila Fire Department (MFD), the estimated damage in Paco was P15.6 million. Around 50 individuals were directly affected, including ten residential spaces, 14 commercial spaces, and a portion of the school. 

The fire took until 1:26 a.m. the next day to be put out, lasting for about five hours and 26 minutes. 

“Kung titignan mo ‘yong height ng apoy kaya umabot doon sa 10th floor ng eskwelahan dahil sa sobrang—combustibility content niya sobrang dami. Imagine mo naman kung mga plastic at tisaka renolyum o kaya may mga paninda doon kung ano-ano. ‘Yon ‘yong nagpalaki ng apoy kaya sobrang taas ‘yong height ng apoy kaya inabot ‘yong eskwelahan,” Deputy District Fire Director FSupt. Leo Andiso said. 

Individuals like Camal Magondacan and his wife Rohaina, vendors of “presyong Divisoria” household items for almost 11 years, were among the devastated ones. 

“May nasalba naman kami kahit papaano, alas otso ‘yun. Narinig namin na may sunog kaya naghakot na kami, kaso nung tumagal ay kailangan na talaga namin umalis,” Camal said. 

Camal and Rohaina sets up their shop amid the rubble and ashes that razed the area on Saturday, April 20. (Photo by Christian Querol/The Manila Warden) 

Carmal and Rohaina still sell in the same spot. Despite the ashes and rubble surrounding their stall, they refuse to leave the tiny, functional area. 

“Kumpleto kami business permit kaya dito kami nagbebenta [...] P20,000 kada buwan nagbabayad kami, eh nagbayad kami bago masunog kaya sayang talaga [...] Lalaban talaga kami para sa pangaraw-araw na pang-budget, [at] pang-maintenance,” Camal said. 

Twice in a Month 

Meanwhile, at 11 p.m., a fire broke out at PGH. It was its second fire since March 13, which was raised to a second-level fire alarm. 

“Itong pinaka-latest natin meron doong ginagawa. Nagkakaroon ng renovation doon sa isang kuwarto at sa hallway. So, nadamay ‘yong isang maliit na space na ginawa nilang imbakan ng mga carpentry materials. So, siguro dahil sa combustible ‘yong mga ano doon—‘di natin—inaalam pa namin kung nanggaling ba sa electrical o kaya’y may nagtapos ng upos ng sigarilyo. Kasi wala namang ibang pagmumulan kundi upos ng sigarilyo at tsaka ‘yong electrical, o  talagang sinadya,” Andiso said. 

 Requiring under 20 minutes of firefighting, 140 estimated patients were evacuated. 

The estimated cost of damages was P15,000, MFD said. FSupt. Leo Andiso confirmed that the fire did not have any relation to its most recent incident. 

PGH Coordinator for Public Affairs Dr. Jose Jonas D. Del Rosario refused to give any comments as of writing. 

The incident is still under investigation. 

- Christian Querol