Fuego!

Have you been in an incident that involves fire?

We have a phrase here in the Philippines that goes like this,

Di bale ng manakawan, huwag lang masunugan.

It means that it is better to get robbed than to get your house on fire. And yes, it has a point because when you are robbed, some things will remain in you but when you're house is caught on fire, it will burn out everything, your life included in the worst-case scenario.

I have been in an incident that our house was almost on fire. The first incident happened 12 years ago, in our old house far from the city. Our house was made of bamboo. And it was surrounded by shrubs and tall grass. Typical house in the provinces.

It was summer when the incident happened. The weather was hot so there were many dried leaves in our front yard. Also, the shrubs and tall grass in the next lot were all dried up because of the heat.

I swept all the dried leaves and lit them. And because it was windy that day, the fire scattered to the dried shrubs in the next lot. Until it was burning out all the grass in the lot. I was so frightened at the sight of it. It felt like I was in hell. I was shouting, asking for help to put out the fire. I was so afraid that my house will get on fire too.

Good thing there was ongoing construction nearby and all of the workers helped me put out the fire. I was so relieved to see that the fire is gone. The aftermath of it was, the next lot was cleaned. No grass or shrubs can be seen. One of my neighbors told me, "Pasalamat na lang ng may-ari sayo Lyn kasi di na nya kailangan magpalinis ng lugar nya, linis na linis na eh." Then they all laughed. I also laughed with them but deep inside me I was shrieking because I am so nervous.

This was our house when it was under construction. In the photo was our Lola Tibay, husband's grandma. I have no photo of our house when it was fully built.

The second incident happened in our present house. It was the time when my mother in-law was hospitalized due to cancer. I was so tired that night because I was in the hospital for one week, straight, looking after my mother in-law.

I was sleeping in the bedroom with my daughter. I put the flashlight and my phone at the side table. Then I turned off the light before going to sleep.

I was in deep sleep when I suddenly feel a commotion outside. Then I went out of bed and opened the door. I was shock and frightened upon the sight. Napakaliwanag ng buong bahay. Orangey bright ang color because the house beside us was on fire!

I went back inside our room and wake my daughter. Then I grabbed my phone and we went outside. I was really in panicked. My heart was beating so fast. I was crying and so is my daughter. I was mumbling "Lord, please help us. "

Then when we were about to go out, the transformer in the electrical post explode! I was so startled that I shout while hugging my daughter. I couldn't even move a single step because I was so frightened. Then one of our neighbor helped us and put us in a safe place.

Then I tried calling my husband( he was at the hospital that time, looking after her mother) but when I was about to get the phone, it wasn't a phone at all. It was the flashlight that I grabbed before we went outside. So I asked my neighbor if I could borrow his phone because I need to call my husband.

While waiting for my husband, I was watching the next house which was on fire. The firefighters were doing their best to put out the fire. I was crying and praying that the fire won't reach our house.

Luckily, the fire was out and the damage was small. Only the second floor of their house was burned out. The firefighters were fast in putting out the fire.

Then my husband arrived from the hospital and he was so worried, he hugged us both and gave us a kiss. "Akala ko di ko na kayo abutan." He told us that while hugging us tight.

After that incident, I get so paranoid every time I see a fire. It took me months before I totally overcome my fear.

GIF from GIPHY APP

Date Published: September 21, 2021