The man who saw blood: Dad hurt by ‘cracker calls for safer New Year revelries

23-year-old father Mark Jason Samin talks about his traumatizing experience with a firecracker last year which resulted in his left eye getting blinded. Photo by Aries Joseph Hegina/INQUIRER.net

MANILA, Philippines–Hours before Filipinos face the New Year, 23-year-old Mark Jason Samin cautioned the public from using firecrackers to avoid making the same mistake he committed a year ago.

Samin lit a prohibited firecracker called “pla-pla” during the New Year celebration ushering in 2014, not expecting that this would lead to his left eye getting blinded.

“Sinindihan ko po ‘yung pla-pla pero hindi sumabog. Noong kinuha ko na at malapit na ako, saka sumabog,” he recalled during the Department of Health’s (DOH) press conference Wednesday.

(I lit a ‘pla-pla’ but it didn’t explode right away. It exploded after I picked it up.)

“Dumiretso po sa mata ko ‘yung pla-pla. Isinugod po ako sa Jose Reyes (Memorial Medical Center) at tumagal po ako ng higit isang buwan doon,” he added,

(The pla-pla went straight to my eye. I was rushed to the Jose Reyes Memorial Medical Center and stayed there for over a month)

“Dumudugo yung mata niya noon,” his aunt Rosalina added.

(His eyes were bleeding then.)

Livelihood affected

His eye injury took a toll on his livelihood as a tricycle driver as he avoided driving during heavy traffic in fear of hitting other vehicles.

“Dati kumikita ng P400 kada araw pero ngayon hindi na kasi sumasabit (in other vehicles). Hindi na ako nakikipagsapalaran,” the father of four children narrated.

(Before, I would earn P400 a day, but not anymore. I don’t want to risk driving and possibly hitting other vehicles.)

The former breadwinner in his family, he confessed that his injury for his then-pregnant wife in finding other means of livelihood.

“Sobrang hirap po kasi siya lang nagtatatrabaho sa amin. May tatlong anak kami noon tapos buntis pa po ako,” Samin’s wife Joan added.

(It was very difficult for us because he was our lone breadwinner. We already had three children then and I was also pregnant.)

On the road to recovery

Samin has since then become a supporter of part the “Iwas Paputok” campaign of the health department, warning the public to avoid using fireworks and not to experience the same fate that he suffered.
“Sayang po ‘yung perang pinanggamot ko na sana ay puwedeng mapunta sa mga anak ko,” he said.

(The money that I should have spent for my children’s future was just put to waste.)

His wife Joan had a stronger call to avoid another fireworks related injury: stop selling firecrackers.
Acting DOH secretary Janette Garin pledged to support Samin’s remaining eye treatments.

RELATED STORIES

 30 firecracker injuries already recorded from Dec. 21 to morning of Dec. 25—DOH

DOH warns those who use firecrackers: No cure for damaged future