Phenomenological study on struggles of fire survivors

ii
“RISING FROM THE ASHES”: A PHENOMENOLOGICAL STUDY ON FIRE

SURVIVORS
A Research Paper Presented to

the Faculty of Agusan National High School
Senior High School
Butuan City, Philippines
In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for

PRACTICAL RESEARCH I
(Qualitative Research)
JOHAIFA M. FAISAL
RUFFAIDA D. JAMAL
CHRISTIAN LOUIE A. LIM
ANDRIAN PAUL Q. MORENO
JEMUEL VILLA
March 2020
ii
APPROVAL SHEET
This Research Paper entitled: “RISING FROM THE ASHES: A

PHENOMENOLOGICAL STUDY ON FIRE SURVIVORS” prepared and
submittied by Johaifa M. Faisal, Ruffaida D. Jamal, Christian Louie A. Lim,
Andrian Paul Q. Moreno, and Jemuel Villa in partial fulfillment of the
requirements for PRACTICAL RESEARCH I, has been examined and
recommended for Oral Defense.
DESIREE JOY L. CUBILLAS

Adviser
Approved in fulfillment of the requirements for the course, PRACTICAL

RESEARCH I, by the Oral Examination Committee on March 9, 2020, with the
grade of Passed.
Member Member
Chairman
Accepted in fulfillment of the requirements for the course, PRACTICAL

RESEARCH I.
AMALIA B RINGOR, DEV.ED

Track Head
RUTH A. CASTROMAYOR
Principal IV, SHS-Assisstant Principal
iii
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
The researchers would like to extend their heartfelt gratitude and
appreciations to the following:
First and foremost, to the Almighty God for His guidance, strength, and
wisdom that He has bestowed upon the researchers;
To their parents, for the undying affection, care, motivating, supporting,
and comprehending the researchers throughout their project;
To their teacher, Ms. Desiree Joy Cubillas, for taking as much time as is
needed in helping and demonstrating the researchers the ways of making this
research successful;
To the panelist, for their advices, help and recommendations for additional
improve this study;
To the family of Agustin G. Carillo, for helping the researchers in selecting
the respondents and conducting the interview;
To their respondents, for showing kindness and giving their time for the
interview of the researchers;
Lastly, to their ever supportive friends, straightforwardly or in a roundabout
way helped them and giving them a turn in this endeavor.
J.M.F.
R.D.J.
C.L.A.L.
A.P.Q.M.
J.V.
iv
ABSTRACT
This research study focuses on the lived experiences of fire survivors and
the struggles they encountered and how they managed to cope with those
challenges. The predicament wherein the fire survivors were in was difficult, and
the researches wherein reported the problems and struggles of the fire survivors
were scarce. The purpose of this study is to give insight about the struggles that
the residential fire survivor have experienced and to show how people reach the
stage of acceptance.
The researchers used a qualitative research specifically the
phenomenological approach. The researchers used purposive sampling, wherein
ten (10) participants aged twenty-five (25) and above who are already financially
unstable from Villanueva Extension had been chosen and interviewed. A letter of
permission was given to the principal of the researchers to ask permission to
conduct the research outside of their school premises. The researchers also
collected the letter of consent to the participants. The researchers gave respect
and empathy to the circumstances of the fire survivors and assured that their
identities are kept confidential. The researchers used a semi-structured interview
method in conducting the interview, using recorders and cameras to document
the interview. The researchers also gave letters of approval to the participants
before they conducted their interview to let the researchers have easy access to
perform their study and to gain the participants' trust. The researchers then
analyzed the data and then identified and categorized themes according to the
participant’s answers.
Throughout the study, the researchers have now insight about the
struggles that residential fire survivor have experienced and how did they reach
the stage of acceptance. The researchers found out that (1) most of the fire
survivors ask help from their family, relatives and friends, (2) while one relied on
themselves. The researchers also found out that (3) most of the fire survivors
worked hard to suffice their everyday needs. (5) Fire survivors gradually
recovered after their home burned to ashes. Lastly, (6) the fire survivors became
more alert in their surroundings.
v
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page Number
Title Page i
Approval Sheet ii
Acknowledgement iii
Abstract iv
Table of Contents v
Chapter
1. INTRODUCTION 1
2. LITERATURE REVIEW 3
3. DESIGN AND METHODOLOGY 9
Overall Approach and Rationale 9
Site or Population Selection and Sampling Strategies 9
Access, Role, Reciprocity, Trust and Rapport 10
Ethical and Political Consideration 10
Data Collection Method 10
Data Analysis Procedure 11
Procedure to Address Trustworthiness and Credibility 11
4. RESULTS 12
5. DISCUSSION 15
Implications for Educational Practices 17
Recommendation for Future Research 18
Concluding Remakrs 18
vi
REFERENCES 20
APPENDICES
Appendix A: Table of Themes vi
Appendix B: Interview Guide vii
Appendix C: Transciption and Translation viii
Appendix D: Letters of Permission to Conduct the Study ix
Documentation x
Curriculum Vitae xi
CHAPTER I
INTRODUCTION
All disasters, whether flood, earthquake, cyclone, drought or extensive
fire, inevitably causes upheavals not only in the physical, but also in the social
and economic context where they occur. Horrible natural disaster and accidents
influence individuals who have been experienced or affected directly. They can
likewise influence individuals by implication, emotionally, physically, mentally, or
economically. Moreover, for the past decades, fire is among all the common.
Fire is an exceptionally basic catastrophe that can cause numerous
losses. Flames cause immense trouble just as physical harm. They undermine
life and property and are unusual, wild, and unnerving. Individuals are frequently
influenced by what they see during and after a fire, regardless of whether they
are physically harmed. (Davidson & Singh, 2015)
In contrast to catastrophic events, where inhabitants of a network endure
comparative misfortunes, fire frequently strikes a solitary home. The family may
need to look for cover with more distant family individuals, neighbours, or
companions. In the event that the family is separated incidentally, it can bring
about extra pressure. During, however a short time later, a fire upsets the family
normal and undermines the feeling of wellbeing. Losing one's home and property
can prompt sadness and raised degrees of misery, including post-traumatic
stress disorder (PTSD). In the repercussions of a fire, families may confront
budgetary hardship and in therapeutic issues. Guardians may feel befuddled and
disappointed as they manage insurance agencies and catastrophe help

2
organizations. Families ought not think little of the combined immense impacts of
clearing, removal, migration, and additionally reconstructing. The physical and
enthusiastic recuperation process following a fire can be long. Losing a home
can cause noteworthy enthusiastic misery. The victims ought not to disparage
the test of clearing, movement and remaking after a fire. It is basic for individuals
to encounter a few phases of change including stun, outrage, melancholy and
sadness. (Penney, 2016)
A lot of researches were conducted about the causes and damage of
residential fires inflicted on about property. However, few studies support the
idea that one can be faltered by the incident, but the researchers are determined
to at the very least add additional information to the existing studies so far,
especially on the lived experiences of fire victims.
This study is purposely for the exploration of the lives of residential fire
victims. The researchers aim to answer the following questions:
1. What are the experiences of residential fire survivors?
2. What are the struggles that the residential fire survivors experienced?
3. How did they manage to cope after the incident?
This research will give insight about the struggles that residential fire
survivors have experienced and that better understanding on their situation will
be cultivated. This will also serve as a reference for the governments’
modification of programs for fire victims and be used for future research.
3
CHAPTER II
LITERATURE REVIEW
The literature and studies cited in this chapter tackle the different concept,
understanding, ideas, generalization, or conclusions and different development
related to the study in which serves as the researcher’s guide in developing the
study. Those that were also included in this chapter helps in familiarizing
information that are relevant and similar to the present study.
Greenberg (2018) stated that many fire survivors inevitably regret not
bringing with them precious heirlooms, mementos, and other personal
belongings which in turn causes strong emotions of nostalgia, sadness, and
longing. Their sense of humanity, the meaning that each personal belonging
held, gone and takes a part of your memory. Insurance usually takes care of the
loss of personal belongings, replacing the destroyed item or receiving the cash
that the item once held. Richards (2019) stated that underinsured home owners
took upon themselves to rebuild their houses in the recovery process after a
disaster; this is prevalent in the slums. Low-income households have a much
harder time rebuilding than those of higher-income households. But altogether,
they will manage to rebuild their homes in a span of time.
The impact of the fire depends to the person. Each individual has their
own experiences of trauma and there are many factors that contribute to that like:
social supports, previous distress, and etc. But during that initial phase, people
have extreme adaptability and they all go into survival mode, evacuate, get out
4
and protect their families. It is after all the adrenaline is released and everything
has really quieted down on that end, that the brain has time to figure out, “what
does this mean for me?” And that process evolves over time. To what extent it
takes to even simply reconstruct one’s home causes an entire pack of worry for
individuals with their families, and their protection, and the expense, and living in
impermanent lodging. There's simply so much that everyone won’t consider at
first when one hear there's a fire somewhere. (Keating, 2019)
Fire disasters can lead to significant emotional distress in addition to
possible physical injuries, but the most distressing of places for a fire to break
loose is within one’s home. Residential fires not only withdraw one’s residency,
but also one’s valuable possessions. A home is the individual’s place of security,
comfort, and safety. And the aftermath of the incident can take one’s sense of
security and hinder one’s daily functioning. Do not underestimate the challenge
of evacuation, relocation and rebuilding after a fire. It is common for people to
experience several stages of adjustment including shock, anger, depression and
hopelessness. (Bamgbose, 2018)
According to American Psychological Association, it is difficult to predict
when PTSD will enter a traumatic natural disaster with a survivor. At first, some
people appear perfectly (or even abnormally) healthy, only later to be plagued
with symptoms.
According to Zero Ignition, at any point, activated by a smell or a sound,
PTSD can kick in, bringing a surge of horrendous recollections back.

5
Mia Taylor (2019) said that one is obligated to help loved-ones in times of
crisis. Continued by Urmson, Johnston & Kemp ( 2016), support relatively stems
from one’s own network of social relationships, namely family and friends.
According to Szuchman & Ultramari (2017), family members often exhibit
altruistic behaviors towards their loved ones when it comes to a life-altering
event. Supported by Pogosyan (2017), turning the adversity as a catalyst for
growth and by meeting the needs of their loved ones, the victims of disasters
achieve the strength they need to achieve such a goal.
Albuerne et al. (2017) said that Government agencies and even family and
friend assistance won’t be available all the time, self-recovery is suggested when
it comes to post-disaster efforts. Transcend Texas (2017) also emphasized that
the option of recovering independently is solely by choice and is merely an
alternative. Though self-reliant recovery is quite difficult, but they prefer their own
help rather than risk accepting help from others.
There are often two processes for people to recover from losing their
home in a fire. First is the immediate impact of the fire. These are the response
of people after the incident, like escaping, having nightmares and having
sleepless nights. It's about getting away from the traumatic experience. The other
process is everything that comes after that. These are the things that one deal
with once they are safe or back to their neighborhood. It is the grief, the anger
and the rebuilding of everything; these are the longer term distress. (Keating,
2019)
6
Whilst rebuilding, survivors settle in temporary households. Usually at
friends, family members or even renting an apartment. Victims of residential fire
survivors choose to rebuild their houses right where their old one burnt down.
Rebuilding is a gradual process, and the duration of this process is extended
depending on the victim’s expendable money (Davidson, Johnson, & Lizarralde,
2010).
According to the American Psychological Association (2011), the common
impacts of fire disasters toward unsuspecting victims is that it leaves the
survivors with reoccurring dreams of the fire incident. At times, the survivors may
become irritable, anxious, and even depressed.
Ultimately, however, people can reach a stage of acceptance and become
able to move beyond disbelief, bitterness and sadness. Positive feelings can
begin to re-emerge as the focus shifts towards the future. Safety, security and
comfort are regained, and life moves forward once again. (Briere & Scott, 2014)
The journey to rehabilitation includes therapy, practicing proven stress-
reduction techniques, expressing your thoughts to family and friends, taking
advantage of community support, and much more. (Chan, 2015)
According to American Psychological Association, it is very critical that the
survivor gives himself time to heal and proceed through a normal mourning
process for natural disaster trauma. Only recovery is possible by processing the
trauma over a reasonable period of time. Recovery is a gradual process and
there are multiple procedures for them to recover from the incident, one of which
7
is striving to compensate the lack of needs, house to live at, and many more.
Hallegatte, et al. (2016) continued by stating that victims have no other choice
but to work so that they will be able to buy daily necessities.
Research suggests that children and adolescents can react in a variety of
ways when dealing with a fire, the capacity to cope solely depends on their
parent-figures. Parents are more likely to be the main source of security in the
recovery process of children. They are highly influence by them in a sense that
the children most often approach them for guidance, support, and information
that they are yet to discover. (Heaps & Rowell, 2013)
According to Osho (2012), man is unconscious, and when a sudden
traumatic life-event happens, it is like a wake-up call for man to become more
conscious and more aware of their surroundings. Wolfenstein (2018) suggest
that one of the most common reactions of people who had undergone disasters
is the anxious wariness of the possibility of the disaster happening again. When a
disaster had reached its end, there is an inescapable expectation of another
following disaster.
It is recommended that the victims undergoing the rehabilitation process
must read articles that can alleviate their perceptions after the incident. And if
ever the articles aren’t sufficient for the recovery process, the victims who have
persistent feelings of despair and hopelessness must consult with a licensed and
experience mental health professional. Psychologists are trained to successfully
aid and alleviate an individual’s mental state from something traumatic and
troubling. (Heaps & Rowell, 2013)

8
According to American Psychological Association, natural disaster victims
are generally recommended to seek professional advice if they are unable to
regain control of their lives or if they continue to suffer from symptoms of PTSD
for more than a month.

9
CHAPTER III
DESIGN AND METHODOLOGY
This chapter describes the process of the research. It includes information about
the sampling strategy that is used and the reason why this strategy was chosen. It also
discusses the different steps of the research which includes the choosing of the
participants, the asking for permission, the gathering of data, and the analyzing of the
gathered data. It also shows the roles of the researches in the study.
Overall Approach & Rationale
The objective of this study is to know the challenges the fire survivors faced and
how did they carry on with their life after the incident. The researchers used a qualitative
research specifically the phenomenological approach. A qualitative research is a
process of naturalistic inquiry that seeks in-depth understanding of social phenomena
within their natural. Meanwhile, a phenomenological approach is the study of structures
of consciousness as experienced from the first-person point of view (Denzin & Lincoln
2005).
Site on Population Selection & Sampling Strategies
The research study was conducted in Villanueva Extension at Butuan City. The
researchers gathered 10 (ten) participants aged twenty-five (25) and above who are
already financially unstable who experienced the fire incident. The researchers used
Purposeful Sampling in choosing participants to be interviewed. The Purposeful
Sampling may engross studying the entire population of a number of limited groups or
division of a given populace (Engel & Schutt, 2009).

10
Access, Role, Reciprocity, Trust and Rapport
The researchers sent a letter of approval to the assistant principal to ask
permission to conduct the study. Right after the approval of the letter, the researchers
sent a letter of permission to the participants inviting them for an interview. The roles of
the researchers are interviewer, recorder, photographer, translator, and encoder. The
researchers gave an update to the participants regarding the progress of the research
and the result of the study. The researchers assured the participants that their identity
will remain anonymous and all the information will be confidentially kept. All the opinions
and perspectives of the participants is respected by the researchers.
Ethical and Political Considerations
The participants were not subjected to harm in any ways. The researchers
had obtained full consent from the participants prior to the study and protection of
privacy of the participants was ensured. Any type of communication in relation to
the research was done with honesty and transparency as well as representation
of primary data findings. The researchers shall respect and honor the
participant’s perspective.
Data Collection Method
The researchers used the semi-structured interview method. Semi-structured
interview is a method in which the interviewers do not strictly follow a formalized list of
questions, but rather, will ask more open-ended questions (Doyle, 2019). A one-on-one
or face to face method is utilized. The researchers used a recorder, notebook, pencil or
ball pen and camera to conduct the interview

11
Data Analysis Procedures
All the data is reviewed. The researchers used a recorder to record the answers
of participants for transcribe. Then, the answers of the participants is translated and
analyzed by the researchers. After that, the researchers identified the themes and
categorize the answers of the participants into code of themes.
Procedures to Address Trustworthiness and Credibility
The researchers asked for permission from the assistant principal of the
ANHS-Senior high school to conduct the study so as to the research will be legal
and with authorization. The researchers assured that the participants were
protected in any form of discrimination and any risk during and after the study.
Thus, participants have the right to withdraw from the study at any stage if they
wish to do so. Participants shall participate on the basis of informed consent. The
principle of informed consent involves researchers providing sufficient
information and assurances about taking part to allow individuals understand the
implications of participants and to reach a fully informed and considered freely
given decisions without the exercise of any pressure or coercion. The research is
conducted with honesty and transparency.

12
CHAPTER IV
RESULTS
This chapter deals with the presentation, interpretation, and analysis of
data gathered by semi-structured interview. Interpretation and analysis of data
are clustered into themes related to the topic of this research.
Theme No. 1. Asking help from family, relatives, and friends. After
experiencing a disaster, the person that first comes into their mind to ask help
from is their family, relatives, and friends because they are people who can be
there for them in the middle of crisis. For instance, Participant E stated that “Kaila
ra gyud nato ang makatabang og kadtong mga ig-agaw mga ig-soon.” (“Our
acquaintances, cousins, and siblings are the only ones who can help.”).
Participant G also said that, “Ngayo-ngayo sa akong parente nga layo, parente
ko sa provinsya mangayo ug humay para naay kaonon.” (“I ask for help from my
relatives from afar, I ask for rice from relative from the province so that I’d have
something to eat.”).
Theme No. 2. Family as motivation and inspiration. Family are those
people that give them determination and drives them to continue their life and
never give up despite the hardships and obstacles that they are going through.
Their families encourage them to be strong and be the better version of
themselves. In comparison, Participant A stated that “Sa akong pamilya, among
bata gamay pa nga kinahanglan wa gyuy mahitabo sa amo kay nay bata nga
nagkuan sa amo nagsalig.” (“From my family, we need to make sure that nothing
13
happens to us because our children that are still too young are depending on
us.”). Participant G stated that “Unya naghinay-hinay pod pangakuan ug mga
unsay pamuhan sa akong anak. Dapat gyud nako ma kuan akong kusog maskig
grabe gyud to kuan gyud nako nga akong anak gyud akong ge kuan nga dili
gyud mi ma kuan gyud ato.” (“I slowly provide the needs of my child. I must
maintain my strength even when the situation’s dire, because I need to make
sure that me and my child will not be faltered by the incident.”).
Theme No. 3. Self-Reliant. Even though that the majority of the
participants asked help from their families, one participant relied on herself.
Participant I stated that “Independent man ko. Kaugalingon nako murag ako
kabalo man gyud ko mangitag kaugalingon nako nga kwarta. Kabalo pud ko
magkugi. Dili gyud ko magsalig.” (“I am independent and diligent. I rely on myself
and I know how to earn my own money.”).
Theme No. 4. Striving and working to suffice the needs. All of the
participants went back to square-one, and majority of the participants worked
hard to build themselves back up from the incident and to persevere the dire
circumstances that they were put through. For instance, Participant B stated that
“Kuan nagtinda-tinda kog gamay para kuan-kuan sa kalisod. Mag manicure.” (“I
run a small convenience store and do manicures to mitigate the severity of the
incident.”). Participant G also stated that “Naningkamot lang para makakaon,
hinay-hinay ka ug recover, tarbaho ka.” (“Working hard so that we’d have
something to eat, slowly recovering.”).

14
Theme No. 5. Slowly rebuilding the house. Majority of the participants
took upon themselves to reconstruct with their bare hands while some paid
construction workers, progressively buying materials to build their new houses.
Participant A indicated that “Pila nato ka simana na naghinay-hingay namig tukod
og payag. Bisan wala pa nahumana naa gihapoy atop kay init kayo sa kilid sa
kalsada.” (“Weeks had passed and we had slowly started rebuilding our hut.
Even though the hut isn’t finished, just as long as there is a roof under our heads
because the streets would get too hot.”).
Theme No. 6. Alertness for possible fire. After experiencing something as
tragic and disastrous like fire breaking out, the fire survivors are left in a state of
unease that forces them to consider the possibility of the disaster happening
again. Becoming more attentive and responsive to their surroundings. For
instance, Participant A said that “Maminaw man gud mis kuan sa panahon, kay
wala baya ta kahibaw kay squatter baya ni. Kung sunogon napod og balik edi
dapat alert.” (“We always pay attention to our surroundings, we don’t know what
would happen to us because we’re squatters. If they’re gonna burn down the
houses again, we need to be alert.”). Participant D also said that “Syempre mag
huna-huna gyud ta ana kay basin balikan ug sunog kay diri kay squatters raman
mi diri.” (“Of course we’d think of the possibility of the fire happening again
because we’re just squatters here.”).

15
CHAPTER V
DISCUSSION
This chapter presents the summary, implications, conclusions and
recommendations pertinent to this study.
This study aims to discover and understand the experiences and struggles
of fire survivors. Findings revealed that the fire survivors are left with nothing but
their personal documents, in response to this forced them to ask help from family
members and friends. Not only did their families help them in their time of need,
but they also gave the fire survivors the inspiration and motivation to persevere.
Though this is not true for everyone, some would rather work on their own. But
the findings suggest that the fire survivors progressively worked hard to recover
and rebuild. It was also found out that the fire survivors are left in a state where
they are forced to be alert for the possibility of another fire incident.
From the responses gathered, fire survivors primarily receive their
assistance from family, relatives, and friends. It is supported by the idea of Mia
Taylor (2019), one is obligated to help loved-ones in times of crisis. This idea is
also favored by Urmson, Johnston & Kemp (2016), support relatively stems from
one’s own network of social relationships, namely family and friends.
Family and friends do provide aid to the fire survivors, but family, on the
other hand, also provide motivation and inspiration. This is notion is strengthened
by two separate studies of Szuchman & Ultramari (2017) and Pogosyan (2017).
According to Szuchman & Ultramari (2017), family members often exhibit

16
altruistic behaviors towards their loved ones when it comes to a life-altering
event. Supported by Pogosyan (2017), turning the adversity as a catalyst for
growth and by meeting the needs of their loved ones, the victims of disasters
achieve the strength they need to achieve such a goal.
Though fire survivors do ask help from others, this is not the case for
some. One participant stated that they relied on themself. This idea is backed up
by the study of Albuerne et al. (2017), which stated that Government agencies
and even family and friend assistance won’t be available all the time, self-
recovery is suggested when it comes to post-disaster efforts. Transcend Texas
(2017) also emphasized that the option of recovering independently is solely by
choice and is merely an alternative. Though self-reliant recovery is quite difficult,
but they prefer their own help rather than risk accepting help from others.
From the responses, the fire survivors did their very best and strived to
compensate the severity of the incident. According to the American
Psychological Association (2013), recovery is a gradual process and there are
multiple procedures for the them to recover from the incident, one of which is
striving to compensate the lack of needs, house to live at, and many more. This
idea was further supported by the study of Hallegatte, et al. (2016), victims have
no other choice but to work so that they will be able to buy daily necessities.
After the incident, fire survivors rebuilt their houses. Considering that they
have little to no money to spend on materials, the rebuilding process took longer
than expected. The idea is supported by the separate studies of Davidson,
Johnson, & Lizarralde (2010) and Richards (2019). Davidson, Johnson, &
17
Lizarralde (2010) suggest that victims of residential fire survivors choose to
rebuild their houses right where their old one burnt down. Rebuilding is a gradual
process, and the duration of this process is extended depending on the victim’s
expendable money. It is better detailed in the article of Richards (2019), stating
that underinsured home owners took upon themselves to rebuild their houses in
the recovery process after a disaster; this is prevalent in the slums. Low-income
households have a much harder time rebuilding than those of higher-income
households. But altogether, they will manage to rebuild their homes in a span of
time.
Fire disaster has already left the fire survivors to a point of constant fear,
up to the point where they are now always alert for the possibility of another fire
occurring. This statement is proven by the two separate studies of Osho (2012)
and Wolfenstein (2018). According to Osho (2012), man is unconscious, and
when a sudden traumatic life-event happens, it is like a wake-up call for man to
become more conscious and more aware of their surroundings. Wolfenstein
(2018) suggest that one of the most common reactions of people who had
undergone disasters is the anxious wariness of the possibility of the disaster
happening again. When a disaster had reached its end, there is an inescapable
expectation of another following disaster.
Implications for Educational Practices/ Field of Study
This study is significant and beneficial not only to the fire survivors and in
the field of education, but also to the the field of government agencies.
Government agencies specifically the Department of Social Welfare and

18
Development (DSWD) and Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP). The result will give
its manifestation in connection to allowing people to have insights and put up with
them to discover the lived experiences of fire survivors to be able to look through
their struggles and the process of how they cope up with the incident. The fire
survivor’s statements also serve as a basis for reference to the DSWD and BFP
for them to be able to help aid and mitigate the effects of fire disasters.
Recommendations for Future Research
Considering the inconsistency of knowledge that follow from our findings
involving fire survivors, and to evaluate the theories based on related literatures,
the researchers highly recommend to further study the emotional, mental, and
physical health of fire survivors. And of fire survivors’ experiences regarding the
location and locality of their residency, their financial status, and their network of
social relationships.
Concluding Remarks
Upon inspection and evaluation of the researchers’ findings, it is revealed
that the fire survivors face emotional and financial turmoil during and after the
incident. During the escape, only a few of their personal documents were saved
from the flames. Leaving the fire survivors with nothing but ashes of what used to
be their house and forcing them to start all over again.
The researchers noticed a trend where in the fire survivors requested
assistance from family members and friends where in daily-necessities were
granted, so was the willpower and motivation to prolong and continue after the
19
incident. In contrast, not all are willing to risk receiving help from others. Some
prefer one’s own help.
In the aftermath, the fire survivors managed to rebuild their house exactly
where their old house was. Though it took a while, the fire survivors progressively
earned and bought materials to form the house. All-in-all it was honest work for
the fire survivors. In the end, the fire survivors managed to return to their old
state of living, with the condition of heightened alertness for another possible fire
incident.
The researchers reflected upon the fire survivors’ predicament and
statements, and concluded that the impact is truly devastating if one becomes a
victim of a fire disaster.

20
REFERENCES
A. BOOKS
Bamgbose, O. (2018). The Law and Practice on Disaster Issues. Nigeria: Safari
Books Ltd.
Briere, J., & Scott, C. (2014). Principles of Trauma Therapy: A Guide to
Symptoms, Evaluation, and Treatment. Thousand Oaks: SAGE
Publications, Inc.
Chan, F. (2015). Counseling Theories and Techniques for Rehabilitation and
Mental Health Professionals. New York: Springer Publishing Co Inc.
Davidson, J., & Singh, D. (2015). A Beginner’s Guide to Burns – Fire Disaster.
Mendon Cottage Books.
Doctor, R., & Shiromoto, F. (2010). The Encyclopedia of Trauma and Traumatic
Stress Disorders. New York: Facts on File.
B. WEBSITE
Aziz, N., Nordin, R., Ismail, S.D.S., & Hashim, N. (2019). Dwelling Fire Safety
Evacuation (DFSE): A Conceptual Approach. Retrieved from
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/223235692_Building_safety_and
_human_behaviour_in_fire_A_literature_review.
Doyle, A. (2019). What is Semi-Structured Interview?. Retrieved from
https://www.thebalancecareers.com/what-is-a-semi-structured-interview-
2061632.
Heaps, R., & Rowell, K. (2013). Recovering emotionally after a residential fire.
Retrieved from https://www.apa.org/helpcenter/residential-fire.
Keating, K. (2019). A psychologist explains: Trauma and loss after fire. Retrieved
from https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/kelowna-
psychologist-explains-trauma-loss-after-fire-1.5172989.
Penney, T. (2016) The Psychology of SURVIVING a fire and then having to
return to its destruction, Normalcy after a fire. Retrieved from
https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/psychology-surviving-fire-having-return-its-
normalcy-after-penney.
Recovering emotionally from disaster. (August 2013). Retrieved from
https://www.apa.org/helpcenter/recovering-disasters.
Velasco. (2013). Epidemiological Assessment of Fires in the Philippines.
Retrieved from https://www.pids.gov.ph/publications/5213.
21
What Remains When All is Lost? The Psychological Effects of Fire on Survivor.
(April, 2019). Retrieved from
https://www.zeroignition.com/wpcontent/uploads/2019/04/Zi_White_Paper
_Psychological_Effects_02.pdf.
vi
APPENDICES
APPENDIX A
TABLE OF THEMES
THEME A B C D E
1. Asking “Kuan “Ah sa “Wala ako “Kaila ragyud
help from taga- akong bana rang nato ang
family tagaan iyang amo maguwang makatabang
and lang mi sa nihatag pod ang og kadtong
friends kuan sa hinagmay.” nitabang sa mga ig-agaw
among ako ug mga ig-soon.”
auntie, sa akong
akong (My anak.”
mama.” husband (Our
and his acquaintances,
boss also (No one cousins, and
(We gives helped me siblings are the
receive some.) except for only ones who
some my parents can help.)
help from and my
our aunts children.)
and from
my
mother.)
F G H I J
“Ngayo- “Adto ko “Ig-agaw sa
ngayo sa mo text akong mama.
akong lang ko sa Oh maghatag
parente akong mga sila og mga
nga layo, igso-on relief-goods,
parente ko then wa mga sinina.”
sa damha. Na
provinsya ay! Ni text
mangayo na ang (My mother’s
ug humay Palawan, e- cousin
para naay claim na provided us
kaonon.” diria kay na with relief-
nagpadala goods and
imoang clothing.)
mga igso-
vii
(I ask for on.”

help from
my
relatives (I just text
from afar, I message
ask for rice my siblings,
from my and then I’d
relative receive a
from the text
province message
so that I’d from
have Palawan
something that I can
to eat.) caim the
money sent
by my
siblings.)
viii
TABLE OF THEMES
THEME A B C D E
2. Family “Sa akong “Kuan “Unya “Syempre naa “Akong
as pamilya, akong naghinay- man tay apo, mga
motivation among bata bana.” hinay pod akong anak anak og
and gamay pa pangakuan ug tua man sa mga
inspiration nga mga unsay Manila.” igsoon.
kinahanglan (My pamuhan sa
wa gyuy husband.) akong anak.
mahitabo Dapat gyud (Of course we (My
sa amo kay nako ma kuan have children
nay bata akong kusog grandchildren and my
nga maskig grabe , my child siblings.)
nagkuan sa gyud to kuan who is at
amo gyud nako Manila.)
nagsalig.” nga akong
anak gyud
akong ge
(From my kuan nga dli
family, we gyud me ma
need to kuan gyud
make sure ato.
that nothing
happens to
us because (I slowly
our children provide the
that are still needs of my
too young child. I must
are maintain my
depending strength even
on us.) when the
situation’s
dire, because
I need to
make sure
that me and
my child will
not be faltered
by the
incident.)
F G H I J
ix
“Sa akong “Second sa “Sa

mama.” mga anak, akong
nanglingbasog pamilya.”
pod ko nga
(From my kanang ma-
mother.) save nako (From
akong mga my
anak ato na family.)
time.”
(Second is
from my
children, I
persevered
and did my
best to save
my children
that time.)
vii
TABLE OF THEMES
THEME A B C D E
3.
Independent
F G H I J
and not
expecting “Independen
help from t man ko.
others Kaugalingon
nako murag
ako kabalo
man gyud ko
mangitag
kaugalingon
nako nga
kwarta.
Kabalo pud
ko magkugi.
Dili gyud ko
magsalig.”
(I am
independent
and diligent.
I rely on
myself and I
know how to
earn my own
money.)
TABLES OF THEMES
THEM A B C D E
E
4. “Paghuman “Kuan “Mao
Striving adto di naningkamot. gihapo
and naningkamot Kuan n balik
workin nalang pod nagtinda- sa dati
g to para maka tinda kog gihapo
suffice kuan sa gamay para n ing-
the kalisod.” kuan-kuan sa ani
needs kalisod. Mag gihapo
manicure. n
(Afterwards I Naganam- sauna
did my best anam ra tinda
to kung naay tinda
compensate kwarta karon
the severity gamay.” nabalik
of the napud
incident.) tinda
(I worked tinda.”
hard. I run a
small sari-
sari store and (Going
do manicures back to
to mitigate the
the severity times
of the where
incident. Bit- I’d run
by-bit if a sari-
there’s at sari
least money store.
to spend.) Now
I’m
back to
selling.)
F G H I J
“Naningkamo “Naningkamo “Pina-agi sa “Akong
t para t lang para kanang kuan bana
makabangon. makakaon, pagpaningkamo ginakuana
Trabaho hinay-hinay t sa akong bana n man pod
hinay-hinay ka ug nanguan ni siya ko naa
kwarta recover, kana dirang man pod
gamay.” tarbaho ka. baga koy indak-
naningkamot sa indak nya
budget lang
maskin asa siya mag luto
gyud.”
(I kanang kuan. ko og
progressively Biskag gagmay saging.”
worked hard pa.”
(Working
to at least
hard so that
have money (My
we’d have
to spend so (Through the husband
something to
that I can efforts of my mostly
eat, slowly
cope.) husband, provides, I
recovering.
working hard did my fair-
Budgeting is
anywhere even share by
all there is.)
if the income is cooking
insufficient.) and selling
bananas.)
TABLE OF THEMES
THEME A B C D E
5. “Pila nato ka “Hinay- “Hinay- “Kani “Pagtukod
Progressivel simana na hinay ug hinay naghimog aning bag-
y Rebuilding naghinayhinay barog. gyud kay balay ong
the House namig tukod Naay wala pa mubo panimalay
og payag. kwarta nahuman raman gud mao ra
Bisan wala pa mopalit ug among siya kay gihapon sa
nahuman naa isa ka, isa balay kay ako raman una nga
gihapoy atop ka kuan sus gud isa, magtukod
kay init kaayo duha ka pastilan hinay- kag kuan
sa kilid sa haligi. gyud hinay ra” hinay-
kalsada.” Pagutro kwarta hinay di
na pod gyud.” man ingon
duha ka (Slowly nga diritso
(Weeks had haligi building a na dayung
passed and hangtod (The house, it’s tukod ang
we had slowly sa may.”) process of relatively balay,
started finishing small hinay-
rebuilding our our house because hinay gyud
hut. Even (Slowly is slow I’m the siya.”
though the hut coping. If because only one
isn’t finished, there is our living
just as long as enough money is there.) (The
there is a roof cash we’d lacking.) process of
under our buy two building a
heads pillars house is
because it until the just the
would get too structure same back
hot staying at of the then, you
the side of the house is can’t just
road.) formed.) rebuild
instantly
so the
process is
quite
slow.)
F G H I J
“Hinay-hinay “Hinay-
kwarta gamay hinay lang
palit largo gyud ug
materyales sugod
para maka para
tukod ug makapalit
balay.” ug kahoy
para
maka
(Slowly tukod ka.
rebuilding, if Palit ug
there’s cash nipa
we’d buy the makatug
materials right na baya
away so that mo ani.”
we can build a
house as
soon as (Starting
possible.) slowly so
that we
can buy
wood to
rebuild.
Buy nipa,
we can
already
sleep on
it.)
TABLE OF THEMES
THEME A B C D E
6. “Maminaw “Daghan “Syempre
Alertness man gud mis koy nakuan mag huna
for another kuan sa sa sunog. huna gyud
possible panahon, kay Kanang ta ana kay
fire wala baya ta maginabtik, basin
kahibaw kay dli magluya- balikan ug
squatter luya.” sunog kay
baya ni. diri kay
Kung squatters
sunogon (I learned a raman mi
napod og lot from the diri.”
balik edi incident.
dapat alert.” One of
which is to (Of course
be quick we’d think of
(We always and don’t the
pay attention just idle possibility of
to our around.) the fire
surroundings happening
, we don’t again
know what because
would we’re just
happen to us squatters
because here.)
we’re
squatters. If
they’re
gonna burn
down the
houses
again, we
need to be
alert.)
F G H I J
“Unsa man “Di man mi
kaning ano ingon
ba kaning maghinanok
attentive, oy kay
alert, kanang
kinahanglan kuan man
be patient. basig
Ing-ana utruhan
gyud.” nasab mi.
Dili naman
comfortable
(We need to among kuan
be attentive, diria, lahi ra
alert, and among
patient.) kuan.”
(We don’t
really sleep
that well
because of
the thought
of the
incident
happening
to us again.
We aren’t
comfortable
here
anymore.)
vii
APPENDIX B
INTERVEW GUIDE
Place: Villanuueva Extension, Butuan City
Date: February 15, 2019
Time:
GRAND-TOUR QUESTION: What are the experiences of residential fire
survivors?
(Unsa ang nasinati sa mga residente nga
nasunogan?)
SUB-QUESTION: What are the struggles that the residential fire survivors
experienced? (Unsa ang mga kalisud nga nasinati sa mga
residente nga nasunogan?)
 Where did you live after the incident? (Asa ka nagpuyo paghuman
sa insidente?)
 How did you respond to the lack of sustenance of daily necessities?
(Giunsa nimo pag-lingkawas sa kawad-on sa mga
panginahanglanon human nawala ang tanan tungod sa kalayo?)
 What changed in your lifestyle after the incident? (Unsa ang mga
nabag-o sa imong estelo sa pamuyo human sa nasinatian nga
sunog?)
 How did you feel about your state of security after the incident?
(Unsa ang imong kinatibuk-ang pagbati o pagtoo sa seguridad sa
kinabuhi o pagpanginabuhi human nasinatian ang mga epekto sa
nasunogan?)
SUB-QUESTION: How did they manage to cope after the incident? (Giunsa nila
pagbarog paghuman sa insidente?)
 What is your source of strength while recovering from the incident?
(Unsa imong gigikanan sa imong kusog samtang ikaw ay
nanglingbasog ni ining trahediya?)
 Who helped you in recovering from the incident? (Kinsa ang mga
taong nitabang aron ikaw ay makabangon pag-usab?)
 How did you build another home? (Giunsa nimo pagtukod ug
bagong panimalay?)
 How did you overcome your lack of financial support? (Giunsa nimo
paglabang ang kakulangon sa panalapi?)
 What are you ways to immediate recovery? (Unsa ang mga pama-
agi nga imong nabuhat daun aron ikaw ay mamaayo dayon?)
 What are the lessons you have learnt from the incident? (Unsa ang
mga pagtulon-an nga imong nakutlo human sa insidente?)

viii
APPENDIX C
TRANSCRIPTION AND TRANSLATION
Participant A
1. Where did you live after the incident? (Asa ka nagpuyo paghuman sa
insidente?)
“Daplin sa kalsada.”
(Side of the road.)
2. How did you respond to the lack of sustenance of daily necessities? (Giunsa
nimo pag-lingkawas sa kawad-on sa mga panginahanglanon human nawala ang
tanan tungod sa kalayo?)
“Daghan man gyuy kining mga taong maayo pod og kasingkasing ba nga
naghatag pod og tanan. Paghuman adto di naningkamot nalang pod para maka
kuan sa kalisod.”
(There are a lot of kind-hearted people who are generous enough to
provide everything. After that we’d start doing what we can to alleviate the
severity of the incident.)
3. What changed in your lifestyle after the incident? (Unsa ang mga nabag-o sa
imong estelo sa pamuyo human sa nasinatian nga sunog?)
“Pareha ra gihapon, same as usual.”
(Still the same, same as usual.)

4. How did you feel about your state of security after the incident? (Unsa ang
imong kinatibuk-ang pagbati o pagtoo sa seguridad sa kinabuhi o
pagpanginabuhi human nasinatian ang mga epekto sa nasunogan?)
“Amping ka permi, pagamping permi nga di na mahitabo og usab na kuan
lang permi maminaw sa palibot, o alert”
(Always take care, wish not for the incident to happen again. Always pay
attention to the surroundings, be alert.)
5. What is your source of strength while recovering from the incident? (Unsa
imong gigikanan sa imong kusog samtang ikaw ay nanglingbasog ni ining
trahediya?)
“Sa akong pamilya, among bata gamay pa nga kinahanglan wa gyuy
mahitabo sa amo kay nay bata nga nagkuan sa amo nagsalig.”
(From my family, we need to make sure that nothing happens to us
because our child, that is still young, is depending on us.)
6. Who helped you in recovering from the incident? (Kinsa ang mga taong
nitabang aron ikaw ay makabangon pag-usab?)
“Akong mama, akong mga auntie. O kay wala pamay manghinabang sa
gobyerno, na niabot na nila na nahumana na among balay.”
(My mother and my aunts because the help of the government arrived too
late, we already finished building our house.)
7. How did you build another home? (Giunsa nimo pagtukod ug bagong
panimalay?)
“Pila nato ka simana na naghinayhinay namig tukod og payag. Bisan wala
pa nahuman naa gihapoy atop kay init kaayo sa kilid sa kalsada.”
(After a few weeks, we started building our house slowly. Even though it is
not yet finished, as long as there is already a roof because it is too hot staying at
the side of the road.)
8. How did you overcome your lack of financial support? (Giunsa nimo paglabang
ang kakulangon sa panalapi?)
“Agwanta bisag way sapi.”
(Persevere even if there is no financial support.)
9. What are you ways to immediate recovery? (Unsa ang mga pama-agi nga
imong nabuhat daun aron ikaw ay mamaayo dayon?)
“Ningkamot lang gyud, bisag unsa na paagi among gibuhat para mabuhi
para ma kuan tanan- tanan paagi among gibuhat na mag paningkamot.”
(Just strive hard, we did all things just to live.)
10. What are the lessons you have learnt from the incident? (Unsa ang mga
pagtulon-an nga imong nakutlo human sa insidente?)
“Kinahanglan kita sa tanan panahon alerto ta sa atong palibot para kung
unsay mahitabo nga naa makabantay dayun ta.”
(In any circumstances we need to be alert in our surroundings, so that
when something bad is going to happen we will know.)

Participant B
insidente?)
“Diha sa may multi-purpose.”
(Right there at the multi-purpose.)
“Kuan naningkamot. Naganam-anam ra kung naay kwarta gamay. Naa
poy hinabang gamay kay eh kuan pod namo sa konsumo.
(I strive to earn as much money as I can. When we receive some help, we
use it to buy food.)
“Wala man nabag-o.”
(Nothing changed.)
“Okay lang.”
(It’s bearable.)
trahediya?)
“Kuan akong bana.”
(My husband.)
“Side ra pod namo, mga parinti.”
(Relatives from our side.)
panimalay?)
“Nay hinabang gamay. Hinay-hinay ug barog. Naay kwarta mopalit ug isa
ka, isa ka kuan duha ka haligi. Pagutro na pod duha ka haligi hangtod sa may.”
(We slowly cope after receiving some help. If there is money we’d spend it
on one or two pillars until we’d form the structure of the house.)
“Kuan nagtinda-tinda kog gamay para kuan-kuan sa kalisod. Mag manicure.”

(I run a small sari-sari store and do manicures to mitigate the severity of
the incident.)
“Naningkamot para makakuan sa trahedya.”
(I just strived hard to recover from the incident.)
pagtulon-an nga imong nakutlo human sa insidente?
“Daghan koy nakuan sa sunog. Kanang maginabtik, dili magluya-luya.”
(I learned a lot from the incident. One of which is to be quick and don’t just
idle around.)
PARTICIPANT C
insidente?)
“Diha sa unsa kaning diri sa daycare sa may Burgos.”
(Right at the daycare at Burgos.)
“Aw mao nay kuan na magbalik gyud sa kuan gyud sa permiro gyud.”
(We go back to square one, we rise back up from scratch.)
“Wala man nabag-o.”
(Nothing changed.)
“Grabe gyud ka lisod akong na feel. Niya kuan wala ko ka kuan ba nga
naa koy anak.”

(I really felt the severe impacts of the incident. And I had trouble coping
considering that my child is still too young.)
trahediya?)
“Sa ako ra. Sa akong anak. Dapat gyud nako ma kuan akong kusog
maskig grabe gyud to kuan.”
(Myself and my child. I had to muster up every strength I had even though
it was tough.)
“Kami ra gyud nanguan gyud. Ah sa akong bana iyang amo nihatag pod
hinagmay pero igo ra pod sa among pagkuan.”
(It was just us, my husband and his boss helped a little.)
panimalay?)
“Kadtong ni ingon ko nga hinay-hinay nalang gyud nga makatukod tag
gamay bahalag ingon pa nga kuan daw balay sa baboyan. Gamay pa gyud to sa
una, niya hangtod ni hinay-hinay lang gyud me padagan na nidako na among
balay.”
(At one point I said that we should slowly rebuild no matter the size, even
if it’s a pig den. The house back then was really small until we slowly expanded
until our house increased in size.)
“Ge budget budget bahalag ginagmay basta naa.”
(Budgeting the little money that we have.)
“Kuan kung naghinay-hinay pagkuan nga na ma maayo ko kay
nanihanglan baya akong anak.”
(Slowly doing my best to recover because there is a child depending on
me.)
“Grabe gyud pagkakuan sa paghuman sa sunog nga maka ana ko nga
sus wala gyud koy mga pamilya diri.”
(It was tough after the fire, It really made us realize that we don’t have a
family here to depend on.)

PARTICIPANT D
insidente?)
“Silingan ra.”
(At my neighbor’s house.)
“Sa akong bana.”
(From my husband.)
“Mao gihapon balik sa dati gihapon ing-ani gihapon sauna.”
(It’s still the same way back then.)
“Maningkamot.”
(Strive hard.)
trahediya?)
“Syempre naa man tay apo akong anak tua man sa Manila.”
(Of course, I have grandchildren because my child is still living in
Manila.)
“Akong kinamaguangan ang nitabang sa ako kay kabalo man siya asa mi
nagpuyo.”
(My older sibling helped me because they knew where we were living.)
panimalay?)
“Hinay-hinay ra gamay paghimo aning balay mubo raman gud siya kay
ako raman gud isa.”
(Slowly rebuilding our house, it is just small because I’m living alone.)
“Kuan nangutang ko sa intsik para makapuhunan ko. Akong anak pud
naghatag ug 5,000 para pangpundo diri mao ni karon.”

(We loaned money from the chinese, my child also gave us five-thousand
pesos for us to use.)
“Wala hinay hinay kog tinda para makakaon.”
(I just gradually sell things in order to have something to eat.)
pagtulon-an nga imong nakutlo human sa insidente?)
“Syempre kalisud ana permiro maglisud man gyud ta asa ta magpuyo
sakit sa dughan.”
(Of course the tough times. At first we’d have trouble deciding where to
live from here on out.)

PARTICIPANT E
insidente?)
“Sa mga igsoon, sa katong wa nasunog gale. Layo pod diri.”
(At my sibling’s house, they’re far away from the fire so their house did not
burn down.)
“Um naa may mga uban mga tabang gikan sa gobyerno, gikan sa mga
igsoon, mga kaila.”
(The government, siblings, and acquaintances provided for us.)
“Murag nabag-ohan.”
(I think my lifestyle changed.)
“Lahi ra sa una og karon, nabag-o gyud ang tanan .”

(Just the way it is today,everything has changed.)
trahediya?)
“Akong mga anak og mga igsoon.”
(My children and brothers/sisters.)
“Kaila ragyud nato ang makatabang og kadtong mga ig-agaw mga ig-soon
mga, aside sa mga amigo nato.”
(The only ones who can help us aside from our friends, is our cousins and
siblings.)
panimalay?)
“Aw, pagtukod aning bag-ong panimalay mao ra gihapon sa una nga
magtukod kag kuan hinay-hinay di man ingon nga diritso na dayung tukod ang
balay, hinay-hinay gyud siya.”
(The process of rebuilding a new house is still the same as building our
house long ago. The process is quite slow, you can’t rush building another
home.)
“Ay mangutang, manghulam.”
(Borrowing or loaning money from others.)
“Aw hinay-hinay lang og kuan gud kung unsay naa.”
(Just recover gradually and making use of what we have.)
“Kinahanglan gyud nga magtinabangay gyud kay lisod gid magpasagad
raka.”
(We need to help each other and not turn a blind eye to the needs of
others.)
PARTICIPANT F
insidente?)
“Dihaa sa atbang/ multipurpose.”
(Right at the multipurpose.)
“Hanaw gyud.”
(It’s really hard and sad.)
“Ning gamay karun kaysa una ang akong balay.”
(My house became smaller today than before.)
“Dili mi secure.”
(We don’t feel secure anymore.)

trahediya?)
“Sa akong mama.”
(My mother.)
“Kapitan ug akong ig agaw.”
(The barangay captain and my cousins.)
panimalay?)
“Uban sa akong pares sauna, hinay-hinay hantod naka tukod nami.”
(With my partner before, we slowly rebuilt our house.)
“Dugay na recover kay kato nga panahona lisud kay way trabaho.”
(It took longer to recover that time, it is hard because I have no job.)
9. What are your ways to immediate recovery? (Unsa ang mga pama-agi nga

“Trabaho hinay-hinay kwarta gamay palit largo materyales para maka
tukod ug balay.”
(Slowly work to earn some money then immediately buy materials to build
our house.)
“Pag-ibnay na.”
(Always be alert.)
PARTICIPANT G
insidente?)
“Dinhi ra, uban sa parente didtoa sa Maon.”
(Just here with our relatives from Maon.)
“Naningkamot lang para makakaon, hinay-hinay ka ug recover, tarbaho ka,
tigum pud ka gamay para sa materyales ug pagkaon nimo matag adlaw, budget
lang gyud.”
(Strive hard in order to have something to eat, slowly recover, work, save
some money for the materials and for the food everyday, just budget.)
“Mao ra gyapon, wana utro.”
(It’s still the same, nothing changed.)

“Balik gyud ka sa uno.”
(Start from square one.)
trahediya?)
“Ang imong kaalam nimo saimong paningkamot mao na siya, imong
kusog, power namana siya.”
(Your abilities and determination, that’s your power.)
“Parente, bossing ug mga kaila. Ang governo naghatag man sab.”
(Relative, boss and acquaintances. The government also gave.)
panimalay?)
“Aw karpenter man ko ngita gyud kog paagi nga maka tukod ug hinay-
hinay nga balay.”
(I’m a carpenter so I took upon myself to slowly rebuild our house.)

“Ngayo-ngayo sa akong parente nga layo, parente ko sa provinsya
mangayo ug
humay para naay kaonon.”
(I asked help from my relatives for us to have something to eat.)
“Nag sugod ug trabaho anam-anam gyud ug palit ug materyales para
makatukod.”
(I worked and started to buy materials so that we can start rebuilding.)
“Kanang handumanan nimo ba nga mo balik paba ang imong gamit mao
nay experience.”
(An experience that I learnt is about pondering whether or not the
destroyed item will ever come back again.)

PARTICIPANT H
insidente?)
“Dira sa barangay multi-purpose.
(In the barangay multi-purpose.)
“Ay bali kanang kadto pod na time kay naa man puy daghan nag hatag, so
kanang mga basic-needs. Pero ang problema gyud namo ato na time is kwarta.
Dayun imo pod mga anak kadto na time murag walay mga tambal.”
(At that time, a lot of people gave relief-goods. But the most troublesome
obstacle we faced is the lack of finance to buy medicine for my children.)
3. What changed in your lifestyle after the incident? (Unsa ang mga nabag-o
sa imong estelo sa pamuyo human sa nasinatian nga sunog?)
“Tindahan, tindahan before karon kay wala na kay kuan man gud kana
ganing, murag wala nakoy time.”
(Before, I have my sari-sari store but now it’s gone because I have no time
for it.)
4. How did you feel about your state of security after the incident? (Unsa
ang imong kinatibuk-ang pagbati o pagtoo sa seguridad sa kinabuhi o
“Walay kuan seguro.”
(We are not secure.)
trahediya?)
“Ang Ginoo. Siya ang tanan, kanang kung wala siya wala gyud. Second
sa mga anak.”
(First is God. He is everything, without Him, there is nothing. Second is my
children.)
“Pamilya nako sa side sa Cebu, unya mga barkada”
(My family side in Cebu and my close friends.)
panimalay?)
“Pina-agi sa kanang kuan pagpaningkamot sa akong bana nanguan ni
siya kana dirang baga naningkamot sa maskin asa siya kanang kuan. Biskag
gagmay pa.”
(Through my husband’s efforts, he looked for a job everywhere even
though the wage is small.)
“Through prayer, through prayer nalang. Kuan man siguro I mean ganeng
kung naa kay- kung naa mi kakulangon sa kuan sa kanang sa pangwarta, e
provide rapod ni Lord.”
(Through prayer, because I believe that if we need something, Lord will
always provide for us.)
“Prayer raman ko.”
(Prayer.)
“Dili gyud lalim na kanang masunogan, kinahanglan sa matag-minoto,
segundo sa imong kinabuhi naa gyud ning kauban ni sa imo ang Ginoo matawag
gyud ka pirme, dili gyud ka malimot sa iya.”
(It’’s not easy to be a victim of fire disasters, every minute, every second
we need to call for God always. Don’t forget him.)

PARTICIPANT I
insidente?)
“Diri ay sa barangay hall.”
(Here at barangay hall.)
“Giampo ra nga tagaan mi ug tabang.”
(Pray that someone will give us help we need.)
“Wala man. Ana ra gihapon ko.”
(Nothing. It’s just the same me.)
“Be strong lang. Be strong.
(Just be strong. Be strong.)

trahediya?)
“Ay lahi man ko. Independent man ko. Kaugalingon nako murag ako
kabalo man gyud ko mangitag kaugalingon nako nga kwarta. Kabalo pud ko
magkugi. Dili gyud ko magsalig.
(I’m not like the others. I am independent. I know how to work hard and
earn money on my own. I really don’t rely on others.)
“Pamilya. Imong mga higala. Syempre ang isa pud, ang Ginoo.”
(Family, relatives and also God.)
panimalay?)
“Kining una ana nakatukod mig balay kay kaning una kay unsa pana nag
desisyon ana ba. Wala pud mi nagano-ano nga kuan nagpadali-dali.
Nagdesisyon sa bago ka nagtukod ug balay kay di man lalim pud. Ang panimuyo
kinahanglan ug kalinaw. Among kwarta. Amo maning kwarta.”
(First, we made a decision because it’s not easy to build a house. It’s our
money so we need to decide wisely how to use it.)

“Ay wala man ko nag kuan kay dili man ko magipit. Kuan ra gihapon mag
kugi ra mangitagpamaagi. Pareha anang nagtrabaho ko.”
(I don’t experience financial instability because I always find ways to earn
some money, for example, I work in order to earn some money.)
“Mag-ampo rako perme kay para maayo ko.”
(I always pray for my recovery.)
“Attentive, alert, kinahanglan be patient. Kailangan mag binuotan pud ka
sa imong mga ginikanan para dili ka. Magbinuotan gyud para dili kang kaning
mahibsan sa uban.”
(Be attentive, alert, and be patient. Always be kind to your parents to not
make them despise you.)

PARTICIPANT J
insidente?)
“Didto ra gihapon sa among gi kuanan sa among gi puy anan sulod anang
albertos diri sa kilid.”
(On the place where we stayed before, beside the Albertos.)
“Kuan hinay-hinay og recover sa kuan kanang naa man naghatag sa amo
kanang mga sanina foods daghan man pod og naka cover ra siya pero pag abot
sa diri sa balay mao wala na kaayo mag repair og maayo ingana sa lang among
balay temporary lang kay kaso paman gud lisod pa og repair og pagwapo kung
mao ra gihapon.”
(Slowly recover, there also people who gave help to us, like foods. For our
house, we didn’t repair it that much because it is just temporary. It is still a case
so there is still a chance that we are going to leave here.)

“Murag wala man same ra busy baya ko daghan baya ko bata seven baya
akong anak.
(Nothing changed. It is still the same, I am still busy with my seven
children
“Dili mi secure.”
(We are not secured.)
trahediya?)
“Sa akong pamilya.”
(My family.)
“Mga organization sa government, mga DSWD og naa pod eskwelahan
nga private.”
(Government organizations like DSWD and private schools.)

panimalay?)
“Pag abot sa diri sa balay mao wala na kaayo mag repair og maayo ing
ana sa lang among balay temporary lang kay kaso paman gud lisod pa og repair
og pagwapo kung mao ra gihapon.”
(When it came to our house, we didn’t repair that much of the damaged
parts of our house because we considered that if it were made attractive, it would
all be taken away because this property isn’t ours yet.”
“Ang akong gika-on ato hah kadto rang mga hinabang tanan. Tinapa
everyday, tinapa, noodles, hahah tinapa noodles, oo mao rana. Unya murag
basta wala gyuy kwarta, wala juy kwarta kay dili baya sila pwede manghatag og
kwarta so relief foods rajud tanan.”
(What we eat everyday is the food that is given to us, tinapa everyday,
noodles everyday. We really don’t have money that time because people are not
allowed to give money so it is all relief goods.)
“O didto lang, nag kuan lang sa akong anak na kani. Bantay, nya nag
atiman sa mga bata.”

(I just looked after my children.)
“Magbantay na pirme, mag-amping then mag kuan gyud basin sunugon
utro. Ang mga bata kanang ako na gyung, di man pud ko magpakuan sa akong
mga anak sa gawas.”
(Always be alert, be careful because it might happen again. I don’t let my
children go out that much now.)

ix
APPENDIX D
Participant’s Consent
“RISING FROM THE ASHES”: A PHENOMENOLOGICAL STUDY ON FIRE
SURVIVORS
Dear Participants,
You are invited to participate in a research study conducted by the
Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics Students from Agusan
National High School – Senior High School Department. The purpose of this
research is to give insight about the struggles that residential fire survivors have
experienced and that better understanding on their situation will be cultivated.
Your participation will involve a face-to-face interview and will be recorded
to generate answers. It will then be transcribed and classified into themes which
will provide answers for the research questions.
There are no known risks associated with your participation in this study.
Optimum objectivity will be observed at all times. Your privacy will be ensured
and will be a priority to us. We will ensure you that we will prioritize your comfort
and anonymity. Your identity will remain confidential and no information from the
interview will be disclosed publicly.
Your participation in this research study is voluntary. You have the choice
to withdraw any time and refuse to answer any question without any
consequence of any kind. Also, your participation on this research will allow you
to receive updates on the progress of the research.
I have read this consent form and voluntarily agree to participate in
this research study.
Participant’s signature: _____________________
Date: ____________________
Researcher’s signature:
JOHAIFA M. FAISAL
RUFFAIDA D. JAMAL
CHRISTIAN LOUIE A. LIM
ANDRIAN PAUL Q. MORENO
JEMUEL VILLA
LETTER OF APPROVAL
Department of Education
Caraga Administrative Region
Division of Butuan City
Agusan National High School
SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL DEPARTMENT
February 2020
RUTH A. CASTROMAYOR
PRINCIPAL IV, SHS-ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL
AGUSAN NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL
BUTUAN CITY
MADAM,
We are researchers from Agusan National High School – Senior High
School under the Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics strand.
We are currently working on our research study entitled, “Rising from the
Ashes: A Phenomenological Study on Fire Survivors”. This study seeks to
know the struggles that the fire survivors have experienced and how they cope
with the struggles.
In line with this, we would like to ask your good office to allow us to
conduct our study and interview outside the Agusan National High School
campus. The interview would be arranged at a time convenient to the
participant’s schedule. All information gathered will be kept in utmost
confidentiality and would be used only for academic purposes.
Your approval for the conduct of this study will be greatly appreciated.
Thank you for your interest and assistance of this research.
Thank you and more power!
THE RESEARCHERS
Johaifa M. Faisal
Ruffaida D. Jamal
Christian Louie A. Lim
Andrian Paul Q. Moreno

Jemuel Villa
Noted:
DESIREE JOY L. CUBILLAS
Research Adviser
Recommending approval: Approved by:

AMALIA B. RINGOR, DEV.ED RUTH A. CASTROMAYOR
Track Head Principal IV, SHS-Assisstant
Principal
ANHS-SHS ANHS-SHS
x
DOCUMENTATION
xi
CURRICULUM VITAE
PERSONAL INFORMATION
Name: Johaifa M. Faisal
Date of Birth: June 24, 2002
Place of Birth: Butuan City
Age: 17 years old
Address: P-9, Brgy.14, Limaha, Butuan
City
Father: Faisal O. Mascara
Mother: Faisah D. Macarik
Contact Number: 09126566306
E-mail address: N/A
EDUCATION BACKGROUND
Elementary: Ong Yiu Central Elementary School
Barangay Ong Yiu, Butuan City
2015
1st Honorable Mention
Secondary: Agusan National High School- JHS

A.D. Curato Street, Butuan City
2019
With High Honors
Agusan National High School- SHS

2020
With Honors
CURRICULUM VITAE
Name: Ruffaida D. Jamal
Date of Birth: July 18, 2002
Place of Birth: Marawi City
Age: 17 years old
Address: P-9, Brgy. 14, Limaha,
Butuan City
Father: Jamal Sanggacala
Mother: Maimona Dimala
E-mail address: ruffaidajamal@gmail.com
Elementary: Ong Yiu Central Elementary School
Ong Yiu, Butuan City
2015
Valedictorian

2019
With High Honors

2020
With High Honors
CURRICULUM VITAE
Name: Christian Louie A. Lim
Date of Birth: October 26, 2002
Age: 17 years old
Address: Purok Cassava Brgy. 1, Maon,
Butuan City
Father: Victor Allan L. Lim
Mother: Emma A. Lim
E-mail address: christianlouielim778@gmail.com
Elementary: Solid Rock Shilo Mission Academy
Villanueva Extension, Butuan City
2015
5th honorable mention

2019
With Honors

2020
With Honors
CURRICULUM VITAE
Name: Andrian Paul Q. Moreno
Date of Birth: September 15, 2002
Age: 17 years old
Address: Purok 3, Barangay 5,
Buenavista, Agusan del Norte
Father: Celso C. Moreno
Mother: Bernadita Q. Moreno
E-mail address: andrian.paul.moreno@gmail.com
Elementary: Buenavista Special Education Elementary School
Barangay 5, Buenavista
2015
With Honors

2019
With Honors

2020
With Honors
CURRICULUM VITAE
Name: Jemuel Villa
Date of Birth: October 15, 2001
Place of Birth: Obrero Butuan City
Age: 18 years old
Address: P-7 Brgy.18 Obrero, Butuan City
Mother: Alma Bonita P. Villa
Contact Number: None
E-mail address: jemmueell@gmail.com
Elementary: Obrero Elementary School
Obrero, Butuan City
2015
With Honors

2019
With Honors

2020
With Honors

Phenomenological study on struggles of fire survivors

Uploaded by

Document Information

Original Title

Copyright

Available Formats

Share this document

Share or Embed Document

Sharing Options

Did you find this document useful?

Is this content inappropriate?

Copyright:

Available Formats

Phenomenological study on struggles of fire survivors

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

ii

“RISING FROM THE ASHES”: A PHENOMENOLOGICAL STUDY ON FIRE

A Research Paper Presented to

In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for

This Research Paper entitled: “RISING FROM THE ASHES: A

DESIREE JOY L. CUBILLAS

Approved in fulfillment of the requirements for the course, PRACTICAL

Accepted in fulfillment of the requirements for the course, PRACTICAL

AMALIA B RINGOR, DEV.ED

The researchers would like to extend their heartfelt gratitude and

appreciations to the following:

wisdom that He has bestowed upon the researchers;

To their parents, for the undying affection, care, motivating, supporting,

and comprehending the researchers throughout their project;

improve this study;

To the family of Agustin G. Carillo, for helping the researchers in selecting

the respondents and conducting the interview;

interview of the researchers;

Lastly, to their ever supportive friends, straightforwardly or in a roundabout

way helped them and giving them a turn in this endeavor.

3. DESIGN AND METHODOLOGY 9

Overall Approach and Rationale 9

Site or Population Selection and Sampling Strategies 9

Access, Role, Reciprocity, Trust and Rapport 10

Ethical and Political Consideration 10

Data Collection Method 10

Data Analysis Procedure 11

Procedure to Address Trustworthiness and Credibility 11

Implications for Educational Practices 17

Recommendation for Future Research 18

Appendix A: Table of Themes vi

Appendix B: Interview Guide vii

Appendix C: Transciption and Translation viii

Appendix D: Letters of Permission to Conduct the Study ix

All disasters, whether flood, earthquake, cyclone, drought or extensive

likewise influence individuals by implication, emotionally, physically, mentally, or

Fire is an exceptionally basic catastrophe that can cause numerous

are physically harmed. (Davidson & Singh, 2015)

In contrast to catastrophic events, where inhabitants of a network endure

can prompt sadness and raised degrees of misery, including post-traumatic

stress disorder (PTSD). In the repercussions of a fire, families may confront

disappointed as they manage insurance agencies and catastrophe help

clearing, removal, migration, and additionally reconstructing. The physical and

enthusiastic recuperation process following a fire can be long. Losing a home

to encounter a few phases of change including stun, outrage, melancholy and

sadness. (Penney, 2016)

A lot of researches were conducted about the causes and damage of

especially on the lived experiences of fire victims.

victims. The researchers aim to answer the following questions:

1. What are the experiences of residential fire survivors?

3. How did they manage to cope after the incident?

be cultivated. This will also serve as a reference for the governments’

understanding, ideas, generalization, or conclusions and different development

information that are relevant and similar to the present study.

bringing with them precious heirlooms, mementos, and other personal

belongings which in turn causes strong emotions of nostalgia, sadness, and

disaster; this is prevalent in the slums. Low-income households have a much

harder time rebuilding than those of higher-income households. But altogether,

they will manage to rebuild their homes in a span of time.

impermanent lodging. There's simply so much that everyone won’t consider at

first when one hear there's a fire somewhere. (Keating, 2019)

Fire disasters can lead to significant emotional distress in addition to

of evacuation, relocation and rebuilding after a fire. It is common for people to