HONG KONG—There was a huge outpouring of grief and sympathy for the victims of the massive fire in Tai Po that based on the latest figures has claimed the lives of 146 people, as Filipinos gathered on Sunday to hold two separate memorial services for them.
In the first event organized by FilAction (Filipinos Against Corruption and Impunity) Hong Kong, a Mass was held at 11 a.m. on Chater Road, with Fr. Dwight dela Torre of the Philippine Independent Church officiating.
Hundreds of Filipinos were joined by a big number of migrant workers from Indonesia and other nationalities. Nine Indonesians were among those who died.
The fire broke out last Wednesday and consumed seven out of eight residential buildings in the estate, where some 5,000 people lived.
“With heavy hearts and hopeful spirits, we stood united in our shared grief and concerns,” FilAction HK said in a statement.
Dela Torre reminded all those present about the strength found in their community and the healing power of support.
The memorial service was arranged on a day’s notice in lieu of a mass protest action against corruption which FilAction HK had planned to coincide with the Trillion Peso March in several places in the Philippines that day.
Special prayer at consulate
At 4:30 p.m., the Philippine Consulate General organized a Catholic Mass at the OFW Global Centre in memory of the victims of the Tai Po tragedy.
Consul Gen. Romulo Israel Jr. led the rites, during which a special prayer for the victims was read out.
“We earnestly beg Your grace, show mercy to all those who have died, and grant them eternal rest,” the prayer read in part. “We implore You to heal the injured, that in their suffering they may find Your comfort.”
Israel lit the ceremonial candle signifying the Advent, or the coming of Christ.
The Mass was also held to offer a special prayer for Fr. Efren Ojeda, OFM, who died on Nov. 22 at the age of 66. The priest had long served the Filipinos in Hong Kong, and was well-remembered for his humor and deep concern for the migrant community.
A full memorial Mass for Ojeda will be held at a later date, followed by his burial.
HK$800,000 for each victim
Hong Kong Labour Sec. Chris Sun said in a joint press conference with Philippine Migrant Workers Sec. Hans Cacdac that the family of each foreign domestic worker who died in the fire will get a total of around HK$800,000 (a little over ₱6 million) in financial assistance.
The bulk of the money will come from statutory or employee compensation, which stands at least $514,510 (₱3.85 million) for deaths that resulted from work-related accidents or injuries.
Another one-off financial assistance of $200,000 (₱1.5 million) will come from the government as a “token of solidarity,” plus $50,000 (₱375,000) in funeral grant.
“So all together, for foreign domestic helpers who died in the fire, they will be receiving roughly $800,000. That’s roughly equivalent to US$100,000,” Sun said.
The financial support will not be used for funeral and repatriation expenses, as this should be covered by the insurance that each employer is obliged to take when they hire a foreign domestic helper.
Sun also gave assurance that the Labor Department will assist the family in securing the payout and that only the rightful beneficiary will get it.
Injured and survivors, too
For those who were injured, Sun said each of them will get $100,000 (₱750,000) or $50,000 (₱375,000) depending on the period of their stay in the hospital. The bigger amount will be given to those who had to be hospitalized for at least a week.
“For those who survived, we will be providing them with $20,000 (₱150,000),” he added.
Both injured and survivors will be provided with $2,000 (₱15,000) each in Octopus card credit.
The financial aid will be provided to more than 200 foreign domestic helpers who are on record as having lived and worked in the affected estate, more than half of them Indonesians and the rest, Filipinos.
“According to the information available to us, there will be a total of 235 foreign domestic helpers working in Wang Fuk Court,” said Sun. “Among them, according to our record, 10 died in the fire, three are injured, 192—they are safe, and there are still 30 who are missing.”
Nine of the 10 who died were Indonesians, with the sole Filipino identified by the Philippine Consulate as Maryan Pascual Esteban. Two of the three who were injured are also Indonesians, with the lone Filipino identified as Rhodora Alcaraz Tonacao.
Secretary Cacdac relayed President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s utmost sympathy for the loss of life and injury to Hong Kong residents, and gratitude for all the assistance provided to all Filipino domestic workers.
He thanked the Hong Kong Labour Department for helping contact employment agencies to track down the Filipino migrant workers listed as working in the area, providing access to shelters so they could look for missing FDWs, helping the Philippine Consulate set up a help desk in the affected area, and linking them up with the Immigration Department so the work documents of the workers could be restored.
Recovering Filipino
Cacdac expressed gratitude to the Hong Kong government for looking after Tonacao, who was initially listed as critical due to smoke inhalation but is now recovering after a medical procedure which he described as innovative.
“We’ve also been cooperating in terms of ensuring protection and provision of services to survivors, as well as the family of the deceased,” he said.
Cacdac said the Philippine government is also extending financial assistance to the victims, apart from providing counseling to the survivors who are suffering from trauma because of the incident.
The help to the victims will be extended to provide for the schooling of the children of Tonacao, and Esteban’s only child.
According to the latest bulletin posted by the Philippine Consulate, all 92 other Filipino domestic workers listed as working, or had worked in Wang Fuk estate, are safe and accounted for.
