BACOLOD CITY – In the early morning of 26 November, Bacolod awakens to an alarming incident: a fire has engulfed Java Pension House (formerly Bascon Hotel).
HEROES in yellow. Firefighters from the Chamber Volunteer Fire Brigade help contain the fire and prevent it from spreading to nearby establishments. | Photo by Richard D. Meriveles, text by Hannah A. Papasin
Brave men responded to the fire call, hoses were trained, the flames were stamped out.
After the dust has literally settled, the city was met with the news that the incident claimed six lives: pension house owner Christopher Java, his 12-year-old son Christian Miguel, mother Magdalena, babysitter Rosalyn Dacalio, and front desk officer Arnold Felomino, and one guest that remained unidentified.
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DNX presents the images we captured through the lenses of Richard D. Meriveles.
Japanese Katsumi Suzuki, a guest of the pension house, managed to climb out of the flaming building. | Photo by Richard D. Meriveles, text by Hannah A. PapasinICONIC RED. The Bureau of Fire Protection firetruck is on standby as personnel helped douse the flames. | Photo by Richard D. Meriveles, text by Hannah A. PapasinDRENCHED. Volunteer firefighters unravel fire hoses for longer reach to help fight fire better. | Photo by Richard D. Meriveles, text by Hannah A. PapasinHUDDLE. Fire Chief Insp. Publio Ploteña confers with rescue personnel about the fire that gutted Java Pension House in the morning of Tuesday 26 November. | Photo by Richard D. Meriveles, text by Hannah A. PapasinFIGHTING FIRE. A firefighter from the Chamber Volunteer Fire Brigade uses an aerial ladder, braving the thick acrid smoke to help douse the flames that engulfed Java Pension House. | Photo by Richard D. Meriveles, text by Hannah A. PapasinDO NOT CROSS. A perimeter tape warns the public against crossing the area that is now littered with debris. | Photo by Richard D. Meriveles, text by Hannah A. PapasinCOMRADES IN YELLOW. Chamber Volunteer Fire Brigade take a much-needed rest after hours of helping fight fire that gutted one of the iconic buildings in the city. | Photo by Richard D. Meriveles, text by Hannah A. PapasinTIGER TO THE RESCUE. A volunteer from the Mountain Tigers Search & Rescue Bacolod assists his comrades (out of frame) in dousing the fire. | Photo by Richard D. Meriveles, text by Hannah A. PapasinOMINOUS. Stretchers and body bags are laid out in preparation for retrieval operations led by the Bureau of Fire Protection. | Photo by Richard D. Meriveles, text by Hannah A. PapasinSIDE-BY-SIDE. The LGUs of Talisay and Bacolod respond to the call by sending DRRMO assets like the firetruck (left) and an ambulance to assist victims. | Photo by Richard D. Meriveles, text by Hannah A. PapasinFRIENDLY NEIGHBORHOOD… Katsumi Suzuki describes how he “spidermanned” out of the building at the first instance and managed to get out unscathed. | Photo by Richard D. Meriveles, text by Hannah A. PapasinBLACK TUESDAY. A woman weeps as she learns the identities of the victims in the fire that claimed six lives including the owner of the building. | Photo by Richard D. Meriveles, text by Hannah A. PapasinCONTAINMENT. Firefighters from various organizations join forces to ensure that the fires will not spread further so that damage will be contained. | Photo by Richard D. Meriveles, text by Hannah A. PapasinBacolod City Fire Marshall Chief Insp. Publio Ploteña checks in on Chamber Volunteer Fire Brigade led by Assistant Fire Chief Jose Tan, Jr. (in glasses) and Station Commander Jonathan Chua (far right). | Photo by Richard D. Meriveles, text by Hannah A. PapasinA firefighter takes a quick rest between fighting fires that eventually wrought heavy damage to the building. | Photo by Richard D. Meriveles, text by Hannah A. PapasinThe fire brought in other volunteers, like those of DYA Bacolod, an NGO committed in providing rescue service during emergencies. | Photo by Richard D. Meriveles, text by Hannah A. PapasinRescue teams manning stretchers await the results of retrieval operations. | Photo by Richard D. Meriveles, text by Hannah A. PapasinBacolod City’s DRRMO ambulance is on standby while onlookers wait for developments of the retrieval operations. | Photo by Richard D. Meriveles, text by Hannah A. PapasinBureau of Fire Protection personnel do post-fire mapping to assess severity of the damage as well as ensure that all the fires have been completely put out. | Photo by Richard D. Meriveles, text by Hannah A. PapasinREMNANTS OF THE BLAZE. The charred remains of one of the iconic buildings in the city is testament to the extent of the severity of the fire. | Photo by Richard D. Meriveles, text by Hannah A. PapasinONLOOKER. Katsumi “Spider-Man” Suzuki looks on beyond the yellow tape as fire fighters and rescue teams attempt to retrieve bodies in the burned building. | Photo by Richard D. Meriveles, text by Hannah A. PapasinPolice receive instructions in securing the area against civilians, so that retrieval operations will start without a hitch.Firetrucks of the Chamber Volunteer Fire Brigade, and Amity Volunteer Fire Brigade take strategic positions to enable firefighters move with ease as emergency stretchers ominously loom in the foreground. | Photo by Richard D. Meriveles, text by Hannah A. Papasin Oscar “Dodong” Bascon, original owner of the building, gets emotional as he recounts his experience as its owner. | Photo by Richard D. Meriveles, text by Hannah A. Papasin
An amateur cook who has a mean version of humba, the author has recently tried to make mole negra, the Mexican sauce he learned by watching shows of master chef Rick Bayless. A journalist since 19, he has worked in the newsrooms of radio, local papers, and Manila-based news organizations. A stroke survivor, he now serves as executive editor of DNX.
