Outstanding fire fighters teach kids fire prevention

MANILA, Philippines - Fire marshals of Maguindanao province and Malabon City were among the eight outstanding fire fighters of 2011 recognized for doing their job even in the line of fire and for teaching fire prevention to school children.

“The eight men have made a lifetime commitment to advocating safety as a way of life. And even at the risk of their own safety and lives, they are willing to live out that commitment,” says Pilipinas Shell Petroleum Corp. vice president for communications Roberto S. Kanapi, describing The Outstanding Pilipino Fire Fighters (TOPF) 2011 awardees during the awarding ceremony held at the Hotel Rembrandt.

The Safety Organization of the Philippines (SOPI) and the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) hold the TOPF Awards every year with Pilipinas Shell as the sponsor, which also gave each of the awardees a P100,000 check as cash prize.

“Our small contribution is our own little way of thanking this year’s awardees for their professionalism and integrity,” adds Kanapi.

One of the awardees was Insp. Ronald Ali M. Ampang, the first Maguindanaoan fire fighter to receive the award. At 31, he is also the youngest among the 2011 awardees.

For risking his life to perform his public duty, Ampang exemplifies the “bravest of brave fire fighters in the world,” notes BFP deputy chief for operations Maria Sophia Mendoza in her remarks at the awarding ceremony.

Another awardee, C/Insp. Rodrigo N. Reyes, is a Malabon City fire marshal.  He was awarded for starting a couple of projects that engaged the public in preventing fire and helping fire fighters do their jobs efficiently. He initiated the Batang Bumbero project that enlisted 48,000 schoolchildren from kinder to high school levels to become “little fire fighters.”

Asked what he will do with the P100,000 cash prize from Pilipinas Shell, Ampang says, “I will give it to my wife. She is the light of the house and I am the provider.”