Nightclub door that trapped fire victims supposedly good feng shui

LOYOLA and Tomenio: Fiery memories made vivid by court ruling

MANILA, PhilippinesThe inward-swinging doors were supposed to be good feng shui to keep the money flowing in, thats why the owners had them built that way.

Nelson Tomenio and Gerald Loyola were referring to the main entrance of the now infamous Ozone Disco on Timog Avenue, Quezon City, which burned down while packed with partying customers on March 18, 1996. The inferno killed 162 peoplesouls who were trapped inside because of the doorsand left 93 injured.

This and other grim memories rose back to surface for the two men following the recent Sandiganbayan ruling that slapped a 10-year prison term on nine peopleseven city government personnel and two company executivesheld responsible for the tragedy.

After surviving the worst nightclub fire in history, Tomenio and Loyola, along with three other Ozone survivors, were later given jobs at City Hall under then Mayor Ismael Mathay. Both currently report to the Social Services Development Department.

They have since moved on with their second lives, but they still have the burn scars on their arms, hands and back, along with the chilling flashbacks.

As a former employee of the club, I really pin the blame on the owners. It would not have happened if they were not remiss in their responsibilities, said Loyola, 45, who worked as a waiter at Ozone.

For money to come in

Loyola said the clubs swing-in doors, the main the reason why the panicked patrons were trapped, were installed that way because the owners thought it to be good feng shui: It would bring the money in.

But if our city officials did their duty and had it checked, there would not have been a tragedy. There was corruption there, Loyola said.

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Nightclub door that trapped fire victims supposedly good feng shui