ABS-CBNnews.com, April 15, 2007

Fire before dawn Sunday trapped a 64-year-old to death in Barangay Payatas in Quezon City.

ABS-CBN News said Valeriana Sanchez, an amputee, was killed during the fire that started at 2:26 a.m. The blaze was put out at 3 a.m.

Rogelio, the victim's son, said his mother was trapped inside their house as the flames spread.

He added that doctors prescribed amputation for his mother's foot to prevent her illness from infecting other parts of the body.

The son also said that his mother foresaw her death past 9 p.m. Saturday. He said she acted as if she knew that death was coming.

by Jan Yumul
Manila Standard Today, April 16, 2007

In a second fire to hit the former dump in Quezon City in two days, one elderly died along with her seven cocks and the family’s three feline pets.

The blaze struck an hour past midnight yesterday, gutting the house of Valeriana Sanchez, 64, on 15 Davao St., Phase 4, Payatas-B.

Her son Rogelio Sanchez, his wife and two kids survived.

“I was asleep when the fire started. If it were not for my neighbor who saw the fire and shouted, we would have died with my mother,” he said.

Last Friday, a blaze left 200 families homeless as their houses went up in smoke in another section of the open landfill that was hit by a massive landslide some years back.

Residents said electricity was cut off in Payatas-A and households were forced to use candles and lamps, one of which investigators believed was the cause of the fire that destroyed 50 makeshift dwelling units.

The Sanchezes occupied a rented lot with three houses, with one having a sari-sari store of the family.

Firefighters from New Era volunteers and Fairview station put out the fire around 4 a.m.

Neighbors said the senior citizen had been living in the place since 1991.

“She was a diabetic and discomfort in her left leg hindered her from moving fast,” said Linda Loreto in Filipino, a relative, indicating the woman was trapped in the flames.

Neighbors tried to help using their buckets and stored water in barrels.

“I was sleeping with my children. I woke up when I heard the neighbors screaming. I couldn’t believe it. The fire was big and we were all crying. I saw and heard the explosion; I guess it came from the gas tank inside. I saw Kuya Ger running in his brief crying for help. We used up our stored water from our barrels,” said 25-year-old Marvie Aguiflor, neighbor and close friend of the Sanchez family for over a decade.

Water comes out of the taps 5 a.m. to 7 a.m. and resumes 12 noon to 7 p.m., according to Rogelio, who even managed to watch how Filipino boxing icon Manny Pacquiao knocked down his opponent Jorge Solis televised on local channels noontime.

“I guess not only Pacman’s victory brings us together but tragedies like this as well. I really believe in the hearts of every Filipino out there who are selfless in times of trouble.”

Despite his sorrow over losing his mother, Rogelio said he was consoled by the kindness of his neighbors in coming to their rescue.