BOCAUE, Bulacan – As this town celebrated the 159th Feast of Krus sa Wawa on Saturday, the family of Sahjid Bulig, the 13-year old hero of the 1993 pagoda tragedy, remembered him as a lad who is only too willing to help.
Erlinda Bulig, 58, said if her son did not die in the 1993 tragedy, he would have been 29 years old today and may have his own family.
She recounted that a day before her son died along with 263 victims of the infamous 1993 tragedy, her younger son was on board the pagoda.
“Excited si Sahjid kaya maaga pa kinabukasan ay sumakay na siya sa pagoda,” she said.
Erlinda said that a night before Sahjid died, the latter asked her what do souls in heaven have for their meal.
The mother said she was surprised by the question, but answered it anyway.
“Hopia,” said Erlinda who described her son as “matulungin.”
The next day, Sahjid wear his new clothes and boarded the pagoda.
Hours later, Erlinda and her family was told the pagoda sunk and was worried for Sahjid.
They went looking for him and was told that her son was busy saving other victims.
“Umuwi na kami dahil nananagip daw ng mga nalulunod si Sahjid, pero ilang oras lang nakalipas ng sabihan kami na isinakay siya sa ambulansiya,” Earlinda said.
They looked for Sahjid in the hospital but found him in a funeral parlor. He was still alive but can’t speak anymore due to head injuries he suffered.
They still managed to bring him to the hospital but the young boy was not immediately attended by physicians. The hospital at that time was swamped with victims.
Sahjid died at the age of 13 and was declared later as a hero of the 1993 pagoda tragedy here.
A monument was constructed and dedicated for him at the edge of the Bocaue River in Barangay Bambang here, meters away from his home and it was also meters away where the ill-fated pagoda sunk in 1993.
“Natutuwa ako na kinilala nila ang aking anak bilang bayani, pero mas maganda kung buhay siya,” Erlinda said.
She said that it’s not easy to lose a son, but noted that she had learned to accept his fate.
“Ngayon ko nalang natatanggap ang pagkamatay ng anak ko pero kung minsan nakakalungkot pa rin kapag naaalala ko, lalo na kanina noong may misa sa simbahan,” she said.
Erlinda Bulig, 58, said if her son did not die in the 1993 tragedy, he would have been 29 years old today and may have his own family.
She recounted that a day before her son died along with 263 victims of the infamous 1993 tragedy, her younger son was on board the pagoda.
“Excited si Sahjid kaya maaga pa kinabukasan ay sumakay na siya sa pagoda,” she said.
Erlinda said that a night before Sahjid died, the latter asked her what do souls in heaven have for their meal.
The mother said she was surprised by the question, but answered it anyway.
“Hopia,” said Erlinda who described her son as “matulungin.”
The next day, Sahjid wear his new clothes and boarded the pagoda.
Hours later, Erlinda and her family was told the pagoda sunk and was worried for Sahjid.
They went looking for him and was told that her son was busy saving other victims.
“Umuwi na kami dahil nananagip daw ng mga nalulunod si Sahjid, pero ilang oras lang nakalipas ng sabihan kami na isinakay siya sa ambulansiya,” Earlinda said.
They looked for Sahjid in the hospital but found him in a funeral parlor. He was still alive but can’t speak anymore due to head injuries he suffered.
They still managed to bring him to the hospital but the young boy was not immediately attended by physicians. The hospital at that time was swamped with victims.
Sahjid died at the age of 13 and was declared later as a hero of the 1993 pagoda tragedy here.
A monument was constructed and dedicated for him at the edge of the Bocaue River in Barangay Bambang here, meters away from his home and it was also meters away where the ill-fated pagoda sunk in 1993.
“Natutuwa ako na kinilala nila ang aking anak bilang bayani, pero mas maganda kung buhay siya,” Erlinda said.
She said that it’s not easy to lose a son, but noted that she had learned to accept his fate.
“Ngayon ko nalang natatanggap ang pagkamatay ng anak ko pero kung minsan nakakalungkot pa rin kapag naaalala ko, lalo na kanina noong may misa sa simbahan,” she said.
