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Friday, August 04, 2006
Grim video shows blazing student
By Ben O. Tesiorna
A VIDEO obtained by ABS-CBN Davao showed University of Southeastern Philippines (Usep) student Cheryl Sarate being engulfed by fire during the school's beauty pageant.
The clip shown at the network's news program showed Sarate in her costume made of cotton and plastic while parading on the stage along with other contestants of the pageant.
The video showed Sarate's gown catching fire as she passed by a candle placed at the side of the elevated stage.
Within a fraction of a second, the video showed Sarate falling off the stage already engulfed by fire while spectators scampered to safety.
Few people were brave enough to try to put off the fire that enveloped the student but their attempt seemed to have just fanned the blaze more.
The video showed no one getting a fire extinguisher, which is a must in every edifice especially in learning institutions like Usep.
Investigation showed that there was no available fire extinguisher inside the hall where the pageant was held.
To make matters worse, the host of the pageant even advised the crowd that the show will resume in 20 minutes clearly unaware of the gravity of the incident.
Sarate's mother could not help but cry while watching the video clip of her daughter's gruesome moment.
The mother vowed to file charges against the pageant's organizers and the school administration.
The city's Bureau of Fire and Protection earlier said organizers violated the fire code, which requires organizers to get a permit for the use of any open flame like a candle in any public occasion.
City fire marshal Rico Neil Kwan Tiu said names of the organizers were already submitted to their office. It was however learned that these were only students' names and no faculty member or school officials were included in the organizers' list.
The school administration meanwhile said it is ready to face any charges that would arise out of the incident.
For Bisaya stories from Davao. Click here. (August 4, 2006 issue)
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