Fri | May 11, 2018 | 4:10 PM

PAGCOR’s Vice President for Corporate Social Responsibility Group Jimmy Bondoc led the distribution of relief goods to fire victims in Barangay Tambo in Parañaque City.

Marlon Amata lost his partner Ana Donna Agrasada, 26-yr old and his two sons Jake 6-yr old and Angelo, 3-yr old in the fire.

PAGCOR’s Vice President for Corporate Social Responsibility Group Jimmy Bondoc and Marlon Amata, who lost his wife and two kids, check the remnants of the fire that gutted their house and properties.

Around 200 families occupy the abandoned three-storey building, also known as “Bahay na Bato,” in Tambo, Parañaque City, before a fire broke out on the eve of May 9, 2018.

Tambo, Parañaque – The Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) provided immediate assistance to fire victims who occupied the three-storey abandoned building in Barangay Tambo, Parañaque City, which was burned on the eve of May 9, 2018.

PAGCOR handed out more than 200 grocery packs containing rice, canned goods and instant noodles to the fire victims who are temporarily seeking shelter in tents along the road.

According to PAGCOR Chairman and CEO Andrea Domingo, aside from the relief goods, the agency will also provide financial assistance to the families of the casualities. “We have directed our Corporate Social Responsibility Group to assist the fire victims as they cope with this tragedy. We hope that our little acts of kindness will help alleviate their sufferings and loss.”

PAGCOR’s Vice President for Corporate Social Responsibility Group Jimmy Bondoc spearheaded the distribution of relief goods to the fire victims on May 11, 2018.

Also called “Bahay na Bato,” part of the apartment building in the third floor was burned. The building was built in the 1960’s and was deserted by the owners about three decades ago. Based on census, around 200 families reside in the tenement.

One of the residents who lost their loved ones in the fire is Marlon Amata. His partner 26-year-old Ana Donna Agrasada, and his two sons, six-year-old Jake and three-year-old Angelo—perished in the fire.

According to Amata, he was working in the car wash when he was informed by his neighbor that there was a fire in the building at around 5:00 in the afternoon. "Umuwi ako kaagad. Sinubukan ko silang iligtas kasama yung mga kapitbahay namin, pero napakalaki na ng apoy. Hindi na namin kinaya," he recalled.

When the fire was out after almost four hours, the Bureau of Fire found the charred body of Amata’s wife hugging the two kids in the ground floor. Apart from the three, their relative Mary Joy De Jesus, 26 who was two months pregnant, together with her sons ten-year-old Danieland six-year-old Jomarie Canaria, also died in the fire.

Despite his loss, Amata believes that everything happens for a reason. “Nakakalungkot na nawala sila. Pero kailangan ko lang magpaka-tatag. Para sa ikatatahimik din naman nila kung nasaan man sila para hindi na nila inaalala kahit mag-isa na ako ngayon.”

Meanwhile, Vice Mayor of Parañaque City Rico Golez together with the Department of Social Welfare and Development assisted PAGCOR in distributing the relief packs to the fire victims.

According to Golez, PAGCOR has been Parañaque’s partner in various socio-civic activities. He was grateful for the continuous support of the agency in the city including the provision of school buildings for the pupils.

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