A newly wed couple from Parañaque City faced one of the hardest challenges in their lives last year after a tragic incident happened in their home.
On Dec. 18, 2021, Ronnie Madredeo was about to prepare breakfast for his wife Roanne when a tank of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) suddenly exploded and started a fire on the first floor of their home.
“6:30 AM he woke me up at tinanong kung anong gusto ko breakfast para ipagluto niya ako and he went down in the kitchen to cook, suddenly, bigla na lang po sumabog ‘yung bahay namin dahil po sa LPG. Pag open ko ng pinto para tignan ang nangyare bumungad po sa akin ‘yung husband ko and he was already burned pero nagawa niya pa din umakyat to check on me, kung okay lang ako kahit naghahabol na siya ng hininga,” Roanne narrated.
She recalled the moment when her husband, who was badly injured, still managed to check up on her following the incident.
“Ang sinabi nya po sa akin habang nakahawak sa pisngi ko ‘Beb, okay na ako. Basta alam kong okay ka at walang nangyari sayo, masaya na ako. Kahit anong mangyari, masaya ako,’” she recounted.
Roanne also shared that when the accident happened, their Husky dog, Ajhin, also followed her husband upstairs to find another exit point since the fire had already engulfed the doorway downstairs.
“During the accident po, nakita ko siya umakyat ng kusa sa hagdan, lumabas po siya sa umaapoy na hagdan kaya nasunog din ang mga balahibo nya. And then nung nakita niya akong nagbubukas ng sliding window, lalo akong naiyak kasi tinutulungan nyia ako magbukas gamit ‘yung ilong at bibig niya, sinasabay niya tulak ng kamay ko ‘yung ulo niya para sabay namin mabuksan ‘yung bintana, kaya din nagkaron siya ng sugat sa ilong kasi sobrang init po ng bintana na pati palad ko nalapnos din,” she said.
Fortunately, someone from their neighborhood came and helped them escape the burning house.
“Buti na lang po may umakyat to help us out, binasag ng fire extinguisher ‘yung bintana sa 2nd floor at duon po kami nakalabas ng bahay,” she added.
She shared that her husband was later brought to the Philippine General Hospital. Roanne said that her husband sustained 90 percent third-degree burns.
Despite that, Roanne said her husband fought for his life for five days. However, his health eventually deteriorated. He died on Dec. 23, 2021.
“Nakipaglaban po siya [for] 5 days. Sobrang lumaban po siya kasi ramdam namin na ayaw niya pa kaming iwan, katawan na lang po talaga niya ang bumagsak. Dec. 23, binawian na din po sya buhay. Ang dami pa namin pangarap at plano pero lahat po iyon naglaho nang dahil sa isang saltik lang ng kalan. We lived together in just more than 3months. Sobrang iksi, sobrang sakit,” she added.
Roanne, meanwhile, sustained minor injuries and currently undergoes therapy for trauma.
Their dog, on the other hand, also sustained injuries in her eyes and nose. Thankfully, Roanne said that several individuals and veterinarians pledged to help Ajhin.
“Maraming dog lovers ang tumulong sakanya at nagpadala ng assistance, may vet clinic din po na nag offer ng free service for Ajhin, nagpadala ng cream and medicines at sobrang thankful kami sakanila,” she noted.
When the fire incident occurred, Roanne said that Ajhin was very loyal to her husband as she opted to remain on his side during his final moments.
“Si Ajhin po sobrang mahal na mahal namin siya, lalo ng husband ko. 3 years na po silang magkasama ng husband ko. Kahit po sa pagtulog minsan katabi nya si Ajhin. Ngayon sobrang lungkot po niya, kahit anong gawin namin hindi siya sumisigla at palaging parang may inaantay sa gate. Hoping na makarecover na din siya sa trauma at anxiety,” said Roanne.
Meanwhile, Roanne said that according to the Bureau of Fire Protection, the fire incident occurred after the gas from the LPG tank leaked in the house.
“As per BFP, possible gabi or madaling araw pa lang, nagli-leak na ‘yung gas sa buong bahay since walang open area na pag dadaluyan sa bahay kasi sarado po ang pinto at mga bintana kaya kumalat siya sa buong bahay. Even sa 2nd floor po kasi tanggal din ‘yung bubong sa kabilang kwarto namin kasi nakaopen ang pinto magdamag. Unlike sa room na tinutulugan namin, nakasarado siya kaya hindi napasukan ng gas,” she explained.
Roanne and Ronnie had been together for nine years before getting married on Aug. 29, 2021.
“I admit, I do not know what this year may bring. I do not know what God has planned for me. I am still searching for my life’s direction as I do not know the path I should take right now. But one thing is for sure, I know that you are here with me throughout my journey. Beb, wherever you are, I know you just wanted us to be happy and continue to live with our lives. This will take a long long journey, until I fully understand this playful destiny,” Roanne wrote on Facebook.
