MANILA, Philippines ? ?Will we be able to spend Christmas at home??

?We feel very homesick.?

These sentiments were not aired by people who were living overseas.

Ruby Chuaunsu said these were uttered to her by friends who, like her and her family, were forced last month to move out of West Tower condominium in Bangkal, Makati City, following an oil leak in the basement.

The head of the condominium?s housekeeping committee, Chuaunsu was in charge of organizing potluck parties for residents every Christmas.

?Not everyone participates during parties. But once this problem is over and we hold a Christmas party this year, I?m sure everybody will be there,? she said.

Chuaunsu told the Inquirer that if there was anything positive that came out of the oil leak, it was the fact that it strengthened their faith and drew all the unit owners closer to one another.

?We?ve all agreed to be one in fighting and resolving the problem,? she said as she added, ?I believe that God is Almighty and that He will do a miracle to resolve all of these.?

West Tower was developed by Fil-Estate Realty Sales Associates Inc. It is now managed by West Tower Condominium Corp., which is composed of the unit owners themselves, according to Chuaunsu?s husband, Manuel.

Resentful

Like the rest of the condominium occupants, Manuel said he initially felt resentful at the trouble that befell him and his family.

?But everyone seems to be calm now,? he said.

For the past days, the residents have been taking steps to trace the source of the oil leak in their building which was first detected on July 12. But first, they have to siphon off the floodwater that has accumulated in the basement, a task that the condominium administrator had abandoned, leaving the unit owners to fend for themselves.

City Engineer Nelson Morales gave the residents 10 more days to complete the task, a deadline that ends today. He said it was the city government?s way of helping out the residents.

The first deadline given by the city government was July 29.

When the management of West Tower asked for an extension, it was given until Aug. 6 to clear the basement so that fire officials and experts could determine the source of the oil leak which had prompted the city government to order the evacuation of residents.

Morales earlier warned that if the residents fail to meet the third and final deadline, the city government would be left with no choice but to revoke the condominium?s occupancy and building permits.

?We?re now doing the best we can to address the problem and we?re thankful that the city government as well as other agencies have been helping us,? Manuel said. ?This is not just about us unit owners, the steps we?re taking also concerns our immediate community.

He said he hopes the city government would continue to understand their plight.
Prayers needed

?We need prayers and all the help that we can get,? he said when asked what they intend to do when the final deadline lapses.

?We?re also holding on to the promise of the city government that if the building is safe, they will not keep us out one minute longer,? Manuel added.

Chuaunsu said that unit owners would get scared and panic whenever they hear on the news that the building would soon be condemned.

?Of course, they feel bad about it, who wouldn?t? I think that?s unfair,? she said, becoming emotional as she and her husband narrated how the situation has affected them and how they were coping with it.

?Whenever we read newspaper reports referring to West Tower as ?the building?, it breaks my heart because to us, it?s not just a building, it?s our home. There are some 60 to 80 families involved,? she said, stressing that their condition has been causing her sleepless nights.

According to Manuel, they were among the first residents of the condominium when they moved in 12 years ago.

?It?s where our three children practically grew up. My wife and I have a lot of emotional investments in that place and we purchased that property out of hard-earned money,? he said.

He bared that just last year, they hosted a party after they were able to fully pay for their property?s amortization.

The Chuaunsus now temporarily reside at a friend?s house in Taguig.

?Fortunately, a friend offered it to us for a month at a reduced rent. Now we?re looking at a more permanent arrangement, say three to six months. But all these, of course, are extra expenses,? Manuel said.

He added that most of their things remain at their West Tower unit.

Inconvenient

?We only brought our clothing. That?s why whenever I need something, like if I have a meeting, I have to get back to our unit at the 19th floor to get it. And since there?s no electricity, I have to grope in complete darkness,? Chuaunsu narrated.

Their children have had their own share of sacrifices, too.

?My three-year-old daughter has developed rashes all over her body, maybe because we?re staying in an unfamiliar environment. The same thing happened to some of my friends? kids,? she said.

Manuel added that every morning, he has to take his eldest son to the area in front of West Tower where a school bus would pick him up to take him to his school in Manila.

?In the afternoon, the school bus would drop him in the same spot where he?ll wait for me to fetch him. At times, he had to wait for me for hours, especially when I?m also busy with work,? he said.

Basically, most of the affected families are in the same predicament, the Chuaunsus claimed.

They cited the case of one unit owner, a retiree, who had just moved in a few weeks ago before the gas leak issue broke out.

?She decided to sell her house somewhere in the south so she could buy a unit at West Tower because it would be more convenient for her daughter who was studying in Manila. She even had the unit renovated before they moved in. Then this thing happened. Now, her relatives are taking turns taking care of her,? Manuel said.

?The people are hurting, we?ve all been yearning to go home and resume our interrupted lives,? Chuaunsu added.