By Jovit D. Caballero

As the morning sun warmed his skin and the gentle breeze brushed across his face, he savored each sip of his steaming coffee, enjoying the calm of the day. But then, a strange scent cut through the air — sharp and unfamiliar, like gas. He followed the source of the smell, and then, without warning — BOOM! The world exploded around him. When he opened his eyes as he lay on the ground, the daylight had vanished, replaced by suffocating darkness. He felt the burning heat of fire as if he had been plunged into a living hell.

Philip Dela Cruz, fondly known as Iphe, is an Operations Supervisor in the Traffic Operations Department. The youngest of three siblings, he grew up in Malolos, Bulacan, where his father owned and worked on rice fields and a banana plantation, while his mother ran a small ready-to-wear garment business. He witnessed how his parents worked tirelessly to provide the best for their family. Looking back, he acknowledges that their lifestyle was considered above average at the time, as having a home equipped with all the necessary appliances was a mark of success during those days.

Due to the demanding nature of his parents’ work, Iphe and his siblings were frequently under the care of their grandfather. Even at a young age, they understood their parents’ limited availability and never held it against them, which reflected how well they were raised. The siblings actively contributed to the family’s sewing business, assisting their mother with small tasks and accompanying her as she sold their products door-to-door in nearby barangays. Despite the challenges, Iphe excelled academically and proudly represented Dakila Elementary School as part of the athletics team in municipal sports leagues.

During his high school years at the University of Regina Carmeli, Iphe became more reserved. Transitioning from a public school to a private one, he felt intimidated by classmates who were clearly from much wealthier backgrounds. Everything—from their personalities and the language they used to the overall school culture—was unfamiliar to him. Adding to this, his family’s financial situation began to decline as imported products started to dominate the market, causing their sewing business to slow down. In response, Iphe and his siblings became more involved in the business, hoping to help revive it. Unfortunately, by his third year, the business had completely shut down.

After graduation, Iphe realized it would be even more difficult for the family to move forward. His parents took on additional jobs to earn extra income—his mother worked as a seamstress for other business owners, while his father became a mason for a small construction firm. With his brother pursuing an architecture degree and his sister studying nursing, Iphe initially considered pausing his education to help. However, his parents insisted he continue and even bought him a mountain bike to persuade him. He enrolled in a two-year General Radio Communication Operator course at Veritas Technical School. To support himself, Iphe took on side jobs, such as assisting with mango harvesting, to cover his school allowance. With the family’s combined efforts, all three children graduated with flying colors.

Iphe immediately applied for any available jobs, even those unrelated to his college degree. He secured a position as a fast-food service crew member at Jollibee Corporation, where he worked for seven months. During this time, his passion for learning was reignited, leading him to enroll in an associate in computer technology course at the Philippine College of Arts and Trade. However, a political issue at his workplace, combined with the demands of balancing home, work, and school, made him realize he couldn’t manage all the responsibilities at once. He decided to quit schooling and then applied for a Quality Control Associate position at Datu Puti Manufacturing under NutriAsia, Inc. Afterward, he transferred to Agro Food Corporation, working in the same role and overseeing the dressing of whole chickens.

In 2000, Iphe secured a contractual position at NLEX, which was under the Philippine National Construction Corporation at the time. He applied his college learnings, working as a company guard and radio operator. The following year, he became a regular employee as a patrol crew member, where he met his future wife, Djoanna, who worked in the Accounting Department. A year later, they decided to get married and moved to live in Djoanna’s family compound in Guiguinto, Bulacan. In 2004, Iphe was among the few patrol crews retained by the new management under Tollways Management Corporation. That same year, he and Djoanna were blessed with their first child. Iphe continued to excel in his role until a traumatizing experience happened on the 29^th of July 2012.

It was a peaceful rest day for Iphe as he enjoyed his morning coffee on the terrace while his family slept inside. Suddenly, he detected a strong, unpleasant odor that resembled gas, and realized it was coming from their neighbor’s carinderia business. He saw the lady struggling with a leaking LPG tank she used for cooking. Knowing that the lady’s husband wasn’t home yet, Iphe volunteered to help with the repair. After what seemed like a successful fix, he returned to the terrace. However, a few minutes later, he detected the gas smell again. He went back to offer his assistance, and while walking — BOOM! The world exploded around him. When he opened his eyes as he lay on the ground, the daylight had vanished, replaced by suffocating darkness. He felt the burning heat of fire as if he had been plunged into a living hell.

As he repeatedly uttered “Lord, ayoko pa!”, and while hearing all the shouts and cries, Iphe courageously stood up and went to their doorstep. But as he reached for the doorknob, he noticed, ironically, how his own skin seemed to be peeling off his hands, just like that of the chickens he had dressed in his previous job. When his wife, Djoanna, opened the door, she could hardly recognize him. His clothes were burned away, his exposed body parts looked as though they had been barbecued, and all his hair was gone. The incident left not only Iphe but also his family, as well as the relatives of the other victims—including the carinderia owner and an 11-year-old child from the nearby sari-sari store—deeply traumatized.

From the moment he was rushed to the emergency room at Sacred Heart Hospital and throughout his diagnosis with second-degree burns covering his entire body, Iphe remained fully conscious. He described the pain as being a hundred or thousand times more intense than a minor burn from hot oil. He overheard the doctors and medical staff discussing his severe condition, which only heightened his awareness of the gravity of his situation. Yet, his inner fire shone brighter than the flames that had burned him. He continuously thought about his plans for his wife and especially his two children, battling through the pain despite feeling it was an unwinnable fight at times. On the fifth day in the ICU, the agony nearly overwhelmed him. Unable to endure the pain any longer, he requested to see his family and then lost consciousness.

As a result of the incident, Iphe’s family decided to sedate him during his treatment despite the high cost, because for them, his life was far more valuable than any amount of money. Fortunately, he received not only his family’s unwavering support but also the voluntary assistance of relatives, friends, and colleagues, particularly with financial matters. Although they hid all the mirrors in his room to prevent additional anxiety, Iphe caught a glimpse of himself in an aluminum medical equipment and whispered, “Bakit kailangang mangyari sa akin ito?” After a month in the hospital, the doctors recommended that he continue his recovery at home. Without the relief of any medication, Iphe faced the pain of wound cleaning head-on. He bit down on towels to manage the pain while his wife and relatives tended to his wounds. At times, he felt like a burden to his family, who appeared increasingly exhausted by the demands of his care.

After four long months of recovery, Iphe could finally get back to his daily routine, including going to church and work, though he moved slowly. However, the effects of the incident extended beyond physical recovery; he now faced social challenges, with many people looking at him with judgment and fear whenever he went outside. He even reached a point where he covered nearly his entire body when leaving his home. Despite these difficulties, he was showered by the overwhelming support from those around him. Driven by other people’s wishes for his full recovery, Iphe remained determined, believed in himself, and gradually began to reclaim his life.

When he went back to work, the company and his colleagues showed him great care. He was reassigned to a dispatcher role, handling office tasks to avoid complications while he was still recovering. This journey lasted a year and a half, and he continued in this position until 2022. At that point, he felt a strong desire to return to the job he loved—serving motorists on the expressways for the company that had supported him through his toughest times. As of now, Iphe is steadily achieving his dreams for his family. He has purchased a lot and built apartment units, where they currently live and leased out the remaining units. He is also a proud father to two college students who are excelling in their studies and a proud grandfather to an 8-month-old granddaughter, the child of his youngest.

As he overcomes his fears brought by a catastrophic explosion, he is now ready to share his story with the world – one that isn’t just about surviving a blaze; but also, about emerging from it with a renewed sense of purpose. With a heart and spirit burning brighter than any flame, Iphe has shown that he was too lit to quit – a living testament to the fact that while fires may burn, they can also forge fireproof legends.

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