Fire victims cope with loss, uncertainty

UNCERTAINTY hangs over the fire victims in sitio Bato barangay Ermita, Cebu City concerning their chances of rebuilding their homes as the city government proceeds with reblocking the fire site. But for most of them, like 46-year-old Pedro Kangkee, life goes on despite their current misfortune. Kangkee, who suffers from partial paralysis due to diabetes, is still upbeat as he helps his wife sell cigarettes in the streets for livelihood. His 46-year-old wife Susan also works as a laundry woman who earns P150 a day. Kangkee said he was diagnosed with diabetes in 2005 and admits that the fire was the biggest tragedy for his family so far. “I am still blessed because a German private firm has continued their free regular medication until now. It's just a test of times. Kon magsige ka'g kaguol, ikaw ray masakit (If you are always in distress, your health will suffer),” Kangkee said. Kangkee, a father of three children aged 24, 15 and 5, said they saved nothing but themselves. He said he worries less about the burnt belongings that the couple worked hard for many years. “Dili to amoa sa taas to (It's (belongings) not ours, it's His (referring to the Divine),” he said. He said they lost P120,000 worth of belongings in the April 20 fire. Kangkee and his family are temporarily staying outside his sister-in-law's house, instead of staying in the government-owned tents in the nearby M.L. Quezon Street. Kangkee, a former musician, built their first house in 2004 after two years in Malaysia. “Now we're back to scratch,” Kangkee said adding that what keeps him strong is his faith in God. Sitio Bato, barangay Ermita had been razed by fire thrice since the late 1990s, due to congested houses, said Ermita barangay captain, Antonieto Flores. “It could also be because of accident, human carelessness and electrical misuse,” Flores said. Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama earlier said the fire victims are not allowed to rebuild their houses until the re-blocking plan is completed. Correspondent Tweeny M. Malinao