 | On January 29, 2009, an explosion razed Starmaker Fireworks Factory in Barangay Conchu, Trece Martires City, Cavite. The blast, which according to reports happened at around 10:45 in the morning, immediately claimed almost 10 lives and injured 70 more.
The explosion reached the knowledge of the Tzu Chi volunteers, who, knowing the magnitude of such disaster, quickly headed on to Trece Martires to extend sympathies and help the victims and their relatives.
January 31, 2009. It took 16 Tzu Chi volunteers almost two and a half hours of travel to reach the historical Trece Martires, which is about 50 kilometers south of Manila. As a standard procedure, the volunteers took a survey of the actual disaster site. Guided by local volunteers and rescuers, the volunteers saw for themselves the enormous damage of the blast. The half- hectare compound that housed the factory and other buildings was a picture of rubbles, toppled concrete walls, burned wood and cables, scattered pyrotechnics and fireworks paraphernalia; and dried up trees and plants.
According to Sgt. Ramon Alonzo of the First Cavite Rescue Group, the explosion was so loud that it was heard as far as 500 meters away from the scene of the blast. The explosion was so powerful it also broke window panes at the municipal hall and other establishments more than a kilometer away from the area. Reports from the local media also added that the blast caused part of the factory roof to land more than 1.5km away, and the electronics plant in the same compound destroyed.
While one could easily surmise the tragedy that happened in the area just by looking at the surroundings, he will all the more absorb the extent of the damage by hearing and seeing some relatives wail and go hysterical for the loss of their love ones, most of which were employees of the fireworks factory and the nearby Yoshita Electronics building.
Having been the first to reach the site, Sgt. Alonzo recalled that as they tried to sift through the rubbles to rescue the employees, they passed through mutilated body parts and charred, unrecognized bodies. Other witnesses also said that during the explosion, they saw body parts started flying around together with metal and wooden debris.
Trece Martires City was a young city, having been established only on May 24, 1954. It was named after 13 Filipino patriots who were executed by musketry on September 11, 1896, for cooperating with the Katipunan’s revolt against Spain. Coincidentally, the Tzu Chi volunteers have also extended their help to the families of 13 persons affected by the blast, who by sacrificing themselves for the benefit of their families, can also be considered modern-day martyrs.
After the survey, the volunteers went to MV Santiago Medical Center where two victims were rushed. The patients were in an isolated room so it was the victims’ relatives who they met. The volunteers spoke with the mother of 19-year old Arnold Pampillona who was in a very critical condition due to the degree of burns he suffered. Marly Pampillona was in tears as she gratefully accepted the monetary assistance from Tzu Chi. She shared Arnold was the sole earner of their family, taking care of the family’s immediate needs as well as his five siblings’ sustenance and education. She said that since Arnold was hospitalized, the family is only depending on the help of the government and organizations like Tzu Chi.
Marissa Ticman, sister of another victim, Annaliza Taglucop, was also there to receive the cash. The volunteers also offered their help to the families in case they want to transfer the victims to a hospital in Manila. Tzu Chi has an affiliate hospital, the Quirino Memorial Medical Center in Project 4, Quezon City, where Tzu Chi’s burn victims were treated and cared for. Unfortunately, as of this writing, two days after the said visit, Arnold Pampillona passed away.
Paying respects
The volunteers then proceeded to the residences of the fatalities. In front of each coffin, the volunteers made a 90 degree-bow and uttered short prayers for the dead. They also sit with the relatives to convey their sympathies and hand over a little amount that could help them sustain for a couple of days.
The first wake they visited was that of 25-year old Christian Panganiban. His wife and the rest of his family were grateful for the volunteers’ presence and help. However, Panganiban’s two- year old daughter Valerie was a little inconsolable, crying incessantly because “she cannot find her Daddy.” Her mother Bonnavie shared that Valerie was a daddy’s girl and at her very young age, she could already sense the loss of her beloved father.
The volunteers have also visited the wake of Marlon Rodrin, who was barely a week married before the accident happened.
In between visits at the victims’ wake, the volunteers have also stopped over at Mabini Funeral Homes where the body parts of dismembered victims were carefully arranged. Here they met the children of Avelina Rodriguez, who shared they recognized their mother only through her leg. Together with the relatives of two more dismembered victims, Tzu Chi volunteers handed over the cash assistance.
To each family that they visited, the volunteers explained that what they are giving is only a small amount. Yet, more than the monetary assistance, the Tzu Chi volunteers shared with the relatives words of hope to appease their weary souls. They also told the relatives not to harbor ill feelings towards the incident as nobody intended that to happen. Instead, the volunteers advised the relatives to gather their strength and compassion to peacefully accept what had happened to their lost loved ones.
On the last house that they visited, a relative of Gerardo Amparo Jr., questioned the cash assistance in an irate, heated tone. He thought that the volunteers were representatives of the owner of the factory and that the cash was the owner’s way of making amends. The Tzu Chi volunteers explained they were an independent organization and that what they are doing is dictated not by anyone else but by their sincere desire to help. To affirm this, the volunteers also shared Tzu Chi publications that report the organizations’ activities.
Enlightened, the relative apologized and thanked the volunteers. He said he reacted that way because it was the first time that a group of strangers would spend their time and effort to condole and extend their help with strangers like Gerard and the rest of the victims.
It was a long trip but a very meaningful voyage for the volunteers because they were reminded once more of Master Cheng Yen’s thought about the impermanence of life. It was another chance to realize the importance of every second of one’s life and make use of these moments to nurture the compassion within and be a blessing to others. |