What should have been a day for celebrating love in all its forms turned tragic for residents in Roces Avenue when a fire broke out in the evening of February 14.

The residential area was composed of homes made from light materials which allowed the fire to spread quickly, reaching the second alarm before it was put out by firefighters past 12AM. The Bureau of Fire Protection estimated that around 300 homes were affected by the fire. Quezon City 4th District Councilor was coming back from a wake in the neighboring barangay when he was notified of the incident. He quickly dispatched his staff to the location of the blaze to give blankets and mats to the residents who lost their homes. A feeding operation was also implemented, with his office doling out bowls of hot soup to those affected by the fire. Relief and food operations from Councilor Bautista’s office are still ongoing. Aside from hot food, the staff also distributed health kits which contained alcohol, a shirt, and facemasks.