By JOSEPH G. LARIOSA

(© 2009 Journal Group Link International)

Fire Razes House of Filipino American a Day After Christmas

C HICAGO, Illinois (JGLi) – Fire believed caused by faulty electrical wiring destroyed the house owned by a Filipino American a day after Christmas at the north side of Chicago, Illinois.

Nobody was injured.

Alexia Pasaporte Belandres, 72, a retired hospital employee, told this reporter that her family was on the second floor of their house when her son, Lovino, 43, screamed for help as fire engulfed their first-floor living room at 1624 West Peterson Avenue.

A native of Barotac Nuevo in Iloilo in the Philippines, Mrs. Belandres, a widow, said she and her grandson, Marc Kaim Belandres, 15, were able to run to safety as Lovino ran to the nearby fire station for help.

“I left my cell phone in the house and I was not able to call 9-1-1 as we scampered to safety,” Mrs. Belandres said.

She added fire broke out at about 3:30 in the afternoon of Saturday (Dec. 26) and raged until 7 p.m. when it was placed under control.

While the first-floor living room was gutted, fire investigators are still assessing the damage of the second floor.

The ground floor also houses a printing shop that was operated by her late husband, Lovin, who died early this year.

Mrs. Belandres is an active member of the Filipinos of St. Gregory Parish Church in Chicago’s northside. She was the second member of the group, whose house in her neighborhood was also burned during the last few years. (lariosa_jos@sbcglobal.net) # # #

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