Firefighter  05312024

ABS-CBN News Intern

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:950px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1717144005598Firefighter--05312024.jpg" style="width:950px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" alt="Leveriza-Malate Fire &amp; Rescue Volunteer"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left"><em>Leveriza-Malate Fire &amp; Rescue Volunteer </em></span></span></span></div><div><br/></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Despite seeing his own home ablaze, fire volunteer John Justine Gagarin answered the call of duty and helped save the burning houses of his neighbors in Malate, Manila this month. </span></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><br/></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">The 19-year-old Gagarin went viral for a photo that showed him crying as he battled the blaze last May 7. </span></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><br/></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">“Masakit po para sa akin po kasi nakikita ko po yung bahay namin na nasusunog”, he said. </span></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><br/></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Gagarin said the fire started at another house and spread to his own home. When the flames became too difficult to handle and he could no longer save his own house, the teenager focused on preventing the flames from reaching other houses.</span></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><br/></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">“Wala na rin po talaga ‘yung bahay namin. Inisip ko na lang po sa mga kasamahan ko sa lugar ko para matulungan ko sila, hindi sila matulad sa amin’, he said.</span></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><br/></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Along with their home, Gagarin and his family lost all their savings and important documents. </span></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><br/></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Gagarin’s family is unsure if they can rebuild their home due to financial constraints. In the meantime, they are renting a house in Manila. </span></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><br/></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/2024/2/28/when-are-you-more-in-danger-of-fire-1215">When are you more in danger of fire? - ABS-CBN News</a></span></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><br/></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Still, he said they were lucky that none of them were injured because his parents were at work at that time. </span></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><br/></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Gagarin added that he would continue serving as a fire volunteer. </span></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><br/></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">&quot;Mahalaga po [ito] sa akin. Nakatulong po kasi ako sa mga taong nangangailangan po sa akin,&quot; he said. </span></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><br/></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Those who want to help Gagarin and his family may send donations to his mother’s GCash account at 0930 309 8313. </span></div><div><br/></div><div><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/world/2024/5/27/fire-kills-six-newborns-at-baby-hospital-in-india-s-capital-1133">Fire kills six newborns at baby hospital in India&#x27;s capital</a><br/><strong><br/></strong></div><div><ivs-player data-ivs-key="e8c22c015ca9eafa76f1e3edfa03c603" data-ivs-spid="3001339" data-ivs-vid="3020212"></ivs-player></div><script src="https://player.ivideosmart.com/ivsplayer/v4/dist/js/loader.js"></script>

<p>Despite seeing his own home ablaze, fire volunteer John Justine Gagarin answered the call of duty and helped save the burning houses of his neighbors in Malate, Manila this month.</p>

Despite seeing his own home ablaze, fire volunteer John Justine Gagarin answered the call of duty and helped save the burning houses of his neighbors in Malate, Manila this month.

Call of duty: Firefighter helps neighbors despite losing own home in Manila blaze | ABS-CBN

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Call of duty: Firefighter helps neighbors despite losing own home in Manila blaze

Call of duty: Firefighter helps neighbors despite losing own home in Manila blaze

ABS-CBN News Intern,

Myra Pasa and Camille Zarate

Published May 31, 2024 04:27 PM PHT

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