Blast victims get help, but face uncertain future

JESSA Basilisco shows a picture of her partner, Brando, who was hit by shrapnel in the chest and is still recuperating at the hospital. Basilisco’s sister, Mercy, died in the powerful blast in Davao City. KARLOS MANLUPIG/INQUIRER MINDANAO

DAVAO CITY—Twenty-three-year-old masseuse Mercy Basilisco is dead.

Her partner, Joel Esportono, is still fighting for his life at the intensive care unit of Southern Philippines Medical Center.

Joel, also a massage therapist at the night market on Roxas Avenue, suffered multiple injuries when a bomb exploded on Friday last week.

Joel was massaging a client not far from Mercy when the bomb exploded. Inside a room at the Angel Funeral Parlor sat 6-year-old girl Meljoy, their only child.

“Meljoy was informed that her mother is already dead, but everything is still a blur for her,” the child’s 19-year-old aunt, Jessa, Mercy’s sister, said.

“She does not know that her father is in the hospital battling for his life,” Jessa added.

Jessa has her own story to tell. Her partner, Brando Goc-ong, is still recuperating at San Pedro Hospital after shrapnel penetrated his chest, armpit and leg.

“We are just a family of massage therapists. Why us?” Jessa said, tears falling on her cheeks.

The family is originally from the town of New Bataan in Compostela Valley, which was devastated by Typhoon “Pablo” (international name: Bopha) in 2012.

The family matriarch, Verlie, said she and her five children have been living in the city, while her husband is working back in their hometown.

Mercy is the eldest child, followed by 21-year-old Joan, Jessa, 18-year-old Dexter and 10-year-old Neil.

Verlie, Mercy, Jessa, Joel and Brando are all working on the night the blast tore through the night market on Roxas Avenue.

“I was unable to work that night because I had to take care of the kids,” Joan said.

Joan said while she did not consider it as luck, she was grateful that not her entire family died even if they were working in the same open tent that was ripped apart by the bomb blast.

The family is demanding justice, and wants the perpetrators behind bars, Joan said.

“But for now, our immediate concern is to take care of Joel and Brando until they get discharged from the hospitals and to arrange the funeral and burial of Mercy,” Joan said.

The local government of Davao City had given a green light for the release of P4.5-million cash assistance for the victims of the blast.

Through an urgent motion at the Davao City Council on Tuesday, the P4.5-million cash will be released from the crisis intervention funds and incident expenses of the city.

The families of those who died in attack will receive P40,000 each, while those who were wounded would be given P30,000 each.

Expenses for food during the wake of the 14 fatalities would be financed by the city government. Meals for caretakers of the wounded would be financed, too.

Joan expressed gratitude for the help from the city government but admitted she worries about the future of those left behind by those who died, especially Meljoy.

“We are worried for her,” said Joan. “Who will take care of her now that her mother is gone and her father could lose a leg?”