The D Spot

Good morning! Now that my mind and lungs are clear, literally, that is—I am sharing with you that panic and adrenaline-induced experience in Power Plant at Rockwell Center last night.

After the beautiful Baccalaureate Mass at the Ateneo Professional Schools, where cocktails (seems more like a light dinner to me) were served, we decided to have desserts at Sugarhouse in the Powerl Plant Mall, with hubby, Monica, her half brothers and sisters (meaning only half of them, as 3 of them did not join us) and Lucky her boyfriend.

Fire! (not “SUNOG” or “FIRE)

While I was savoring my cup of Twining’s peppermint tea, and convincing Chato to take some to dissolve the super-delicious cakes that we ate, we saw a commotion building up—people running in all directions. Clueless as to what the commotion was all about, we didn’t know what to do. Could it be that a very important TV and movie personality was there? No—Power Plant shoppers would not do that. Could it be just a gang of hyped up teens having a ramble? But we could not see anyone fighting. A man set loose firing his gun? Or a bomb scare perhaps? Oh no! not another Glorietta! Then we had to seek cover. Hubby wanted us to get inside Sugarhouse.

But then we heard someone say “Fire!” (not “SUNOG or FIRE). It was said in such a way that we could barely hear the word. Then the few people who were running (not RUNNING), scampering actually,  in all directions became a huge crowd. The smell of electricity burning was an indication of a fire. It has  became a reality.

Running for our lives

My tendency was to go with the crowd, the 2 younger ones in tow, Alan Jr and Chato.  As the nearest exits were in the ground floor and we were in B2 and since the escalators were still working, we rushed toward the nearest one. I was pulling Alan Jr and Chato and we were on our way up. I heard Monica shout, “Mom, not that way! The fire is upstairs where you are going to!” Apparently, the smoke was already thickening in the higher floors, which I did not immediately see.

And Chato and Alan Jr started to pull me down.  Goodness gracious! I was in my high heels, they were almost stilettos. Six steps up, while the escalator was still going up, we all were able to manage to get down against its flow.

Where oh where are the exits? was all I was thinking about. Hubby said there was an exit going to the carpark in Rustan’s—people were still running in different directions. We didn’t hear any fire alarm and didn’t see anyone giving directions. In the meantime, the fumes have gotten in the lower floors, and we could already feel the fumes reaching our lungs. INDEED, there was  FIRE!

Glad we were able to reach the carpark, I thought we were already safe. But the carpark experience was equally difficult as the escape from the mall where the fire was. There were people who decided to bring out their cars—there was chaos in the carpark. It was so hot there. This coupled with the smell of the fumes made the trek out of the carpark a big challenge. Chato, who already could almost not make it while we were in the mall was already feeling from bad to worst. Still, she was not letting go off the younger Alan Jr’s hand, despite my telling her to let go.  I was so touched with the gesture—how very protective of her.

Lucky on the other hand was pushing Monica from behind (she was also in her high heels), telling her, “Kaya mo yan”. Monica was close to panic, even while we were still in the mall. She was running a high fever. More so, she is an asthmatic, and the fumes could trigger an attack. BA was in a “Panic Dynamics”, as it was the second time he felt near to death—they had to run for their lives. Remember the jologs attack in UP’s LoveRage concert a few months ago?

Safe, at last!

The sight of open space was like “”it’s the end of the tunnel”! Being able to breathe fumes free air—ahh! the freshest air we had in our lives. And it was drizzling—God! Thank you! We didn’t have an umberella, Monica had to wear her graduation toga till we reached safer ground, the side restaurants of the Power Plant. There, we overheard a guy say, “Dude! We’re like, still alive man!” That made BA’s day!

Hubby and BA saw broken glass walls by the entrance (perhaps for ease of exit) on their way to the carpark to get the car. They were waiting for us on the other side of the mall, as the streets toward where we were were already blocked. With Monica running a fever and feeling weak, we asked the permission of the safety personnel if we could just cross the mall (through the inside). They agreed, but had to escort us. The mall was still shrouded in smoke.

Halfway, our lungs could not anymore tolerate the fumes. It was like we wanted to turn back. Alan Jr gave me his handkerchief, and berated me along the way, “Mom, stop taking pictures!”. A blogger, I guess is a blogger, despite fires, fumes, rains or whatever.

We were welcomed “to safety” in the exit by a bunch of safety personnel. The people who were outside thought we were “survivors”,  they would have clapped their hands. There were dozens of firetrucks outside—it was the place of the fire—Urban Restaurant on top of Starbucks. No one was reportedly hurt in the fire, which reached the “first alarm”.

What if?

Then, a question came to mind, what if a fire hits the larger and crowded malls. It would have been a stampede! TIP is:  Pay attention to the fire exits (but how?). I have been to Trinoma several times, or to the SM Malls. Until now, I still ask for directions because these malls are so huge. It is difficult to see the nearest fire exits (or emergency exits for that matter)—meaning exits towad the open air. It is a matter of educating people. Are the malls willing to conduct fire/emergency drills? Or are they mandated? AND are the people willing for an interruption to their shopping or dining? Think about it.

Home at last

We went home safe and sound, but to most of us, we still felt the fumes stuck in our lungs. It was a harrowing experience. BA was still able to blog about it. Read BA’s Panic Dynamics account here. I was so tired, I just slept through the night, waking up in between to administer to Monica and seeing the other children either online or playing Restaurant City or working on the tasks I had for them (a few of them have summer jobs—they work for me).

Waking up ALIVE!

Thank God, I am safe, my family is safe. It is great to wake up Sunday morning—ALIVE! Monica is still running a fever, and today is her  graduation day. We have to be at Meralco Theater at 3 pm., and  have plans after her graduation. Let’s see.

And thank you to online friends who prayed for us while we were running for our lives.

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