IN Feb. 7, 1966, Iloilo suffered what has now gone down in history as the single most devastating fire the city has experienced: a blaze that broke out from a lumberyard along Iznart and quickly spread to Quezon and Valeria streets, fanned by strong winds, gutted homes and business establishments in its wake.
The fire lasted twelve whole hours, as the local government’s fire trucks struggled to put out the flames – needing to travel at least three kilometers to Jaro district to refill their water tanks. When the fire was finally extinguished, it had already left nearly three quarters of what is now Iloilo City Proper a husk of its former bustling self – even then already the center of commerce of the region.
But at least one good thing arose from the tragedy: fueled by a genuine urge to help the Ilonggo community, the late Don Go Pun and a group of concerned Filipino-Chinese businessmen established the Iloilo Filipino Chinese Fire Prevention Association Incorporated (FILCHIFP), seeking to complement the fire prevention and fire management efforts of the city, so that the tragic fire of 1966 will never happen again.
Thankfully, history has not repeated itself. Today, the Federation Iloilo Volunteer Fire Brigade – the modern-day offshoot of the FILCHIFP – celebrates 50 years of selfless service to the Ilonggo community, powered by the drive and volunteerism of its members and officers.
“For a lot of us, we’ve really been bitten by the volunteerism bug, and there’s no cure for that,” Edwin Tan, one of the ground commanders of Federation Fire told Panay News in Hiligaynon.
Tan has been in the Federation for 36 years now, starting volunteer work with the organization as early as his high school days. The ground commander shares that he first started as a communications volunteer in the 70s, himself being a radio hobbyist. Back then, fire calls were broadcast and shared only through the citizens band radio.
Tan relates that he was just three-years old when the 1966 fire broke out, and among the homes and stores ravaged were his family’s – his father owning a shop along Quezon Street. So even at a young age, he was well aware of the vital need for a committed fire-fighting volunteer group.
Now Federation Fire boasts a modernized fleet of 25 vehicles, at the ready to respond to any emergencies in and around the city.
“At Federation Fire we readily serve and offer our sacrifices without expecting a single centavo in return,” said Tan. “I believe fire fighters are the bravest of the brave. These are people who risk their lives time and time again to rescue people and save property, even when there’s no promise of reward.”
The task of fighting fires is no ordinary task, but Iloilo City can be proud of the members of the Federation Fire. They are not only people with a heart to serve but they certainly are “ordinary people… doing extraordinary work!”
Congratulations to the Federation Iloilo Volunteer Fire Brigade, especially to Fire Chief Walter Uy and president Alfonso G. Tan. Salutations on 50 years of unwavering and dedicated selfless service to the Ilonggo community!/PN
