Firefighter Prioritizes Duty Over His Own Needs
A firefighter earns admiration online for prioritizing his duty over his burning home, saying, “Tungkulin muna bago ang sarili”.
A firefighter is a trained professional who is responsible for responding to fires and other emergencies, such as accidents or natural disasters. Firefighters work to protect lives, property, and the environment.
They work in various settings, including urban, suburban, and rural areas, and they may also specialize in certain types of firefighting, such as wildland firefighting, hazardous materials response, or technical rescue.
Recently, a 19-year-old firefighter named John Justin Gagarin, shared his story about prioritizing his duty over his own needs during a fire incident. His gesture goes viral and garnered praise from the online community.
On May 7, 2024m Gagarin was on duty fighting a fire in Malate, Manila, when he found out that his own home was among the 50 houses being consumed by flames. Despite the personal loss, including their belongings and important documents, Gagarin has no regrets about his decision.
“Wala po akong pagsisisi, kasi wala naman pong mangyayari kung tutunganga lang po ako. Mas lalo lang din po kakalat ang sunog kapag hindi ko ginampanan ang katungkulan ko,” he said.
Gagarin expressed relief that none of his family members were harmed in the fire. He emphasized the importance of his work as a fire volunteer, saying he always puts his duty first to help those in need.
“Pinapahalagahan ko ang pagiging fire volunteer katulad ng pagpapahalaga ko sa mga taong nakapaligid sa akin at mas mahal ko ang trabaho ko kesa sarili ko kaya nga dito pa lang napapatunayan ko talagang tungkulin muna bago ang sarili ko,” he said.
Currently, the firefighter and his family are renting a house near their burned home. He is grateful to everyone who has helped them start anew with hope.
In a previous post, 4 firefighters offer free ride home to applicant trying his luck at BFP
The social media users expressed their reactions to the incident:
