Two senior citizens died in a fire that destroyed their home at City Heights Subdivision in Brgy. Taculing, Bacolod City, at past 4 a.m. Monday, June 30.
The victims were Edison Lopez Hibionada, 80, and his wife, Emelyn Genosa Hibionada, 81, the Bacolod Fire Station reported.
Edison’s charred remains were found on top of his hospital bed that collapsed in the living room, his daughter Enger Planas, a Church pianist, said.
Her father was bedridden and suffered from dementia, Planas said.
The lower part of Emelyn’s body was charred and she was found face down on the floor in the dining room. It looked like she had gotten a fire extinguisher, fell and was pinned down by their heavy round dining table, Planas said.
She said CCTV footage of a neighbor captured Emelyn partially coming out of the front door and going back in to probably try to rescue her husband.
A neighbor heard Emelyn shouting “Daddy, daddy ano himo-on ta, Dios ko, Dios ko buligi kami (daddy, daddy what should we do, God, God help us), Planas said.
The couple did not have a companion when the fire broke out, she said.
They had a caregiver during the day and in the evening their children took turns sleeping over. A nephew was supposed to stay with them Sunday evening but called that he was suffering from an allergy but her mother did not let them know, Planas said.
Edison was a senior account executive for Unilab before he and his wife moved to the United States where they lived for more than 10 years. They returned to the Philippines in 2023 to retire.
Her parents’ remains will be cremated, Planas said.
They are survived by two daughters and four sons.
Damage to the house was estimated at P3 million, the Bacolod Fire Department reported.
The fire is suspected to have started from the wiring of an aircondition.*