Dennis Gasgonia

Article (news)

Dennis Datu

ABS-CBN News

At the height of Typhoon Tino’s onslaught, friends Jomar Gempisao and King Alcoma had already climbed on to the roof of their house in Purok Isla Verde, Barangay San Isidro, Talisay City, Cebu, as floodwaters surged around them.Amid the howling winds and pounding rain, they suddenly heard desperate cries for help coming from a nearby house. Despite the danger, the two immediately searched for the voice and found it coming from their 71-year-old neighbor, Alberto Enriquez. “Hindi namin siya nakita agad ,nandoon siya sa loob ng bahay, sabi ng kaibigan ko, pre, andirto pre, kinuha siya, inakyat namin sa bubong,” Gempisao recalled.But what began as an act of courage quickly turned into a fight for survival. Soon, the three found themselves trapped on the roof, surrounded by raging floodwaters from the overflowing Mananga River. The strong current carried debris and even entire houses, while fierce winds and relentless rain battered them. <div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/11/6/typhoon-tino-death-toll-0918">Tino death toll passes 140 as typhoon heads towards Vietnam</a></div>Exhausted and injured, the elderly Enriquez pleaded for the two men to leave him behind.“Sabi niya, hindi na raw  niya kaya kasi marami na siyang sugat eh, sabi  ko huwag mo kami intindihan ,importante  ang buhay mo” said Gempisao.From a nearby bridge, residents could see their perilous situation. Acting swiftly, they threw ropes and mounted a daring rescue operation—racing against time as the flood continued to sweep away homes King was the first to be pulled to safety. But Gempisao and Enriquez remained stranded on the collapsing roof. As the structure began to give way, Gempisao climbed a nearby coconut tree and held on tightly. Enriquez tried to follow—but the cold, exhaustion, and injuries were too much for him. “Humawak siya dito sa paa ko, paghawak niya sa paa, hinawakan ko siya dito sa may braso, tinapik niya kamay ko, sabi iya hindi na raw niya kaya, sabi niya bahala ka na sa buhay mo, bumitaw siya,” Gempisao recalled. “Wala ako magawa, buhay ng tao, sinagip ko pero hindi ko na kaya... Ang sakit sa dibdib hanggang ngayon hindi  pa kaya,”  Gempisao said, his voice breaking.“Patawad, pasensya na kayo hindi ko kinaya, wala na ako magawa,” he whispered. One of the rescuers, Gabriel Villadar, a neighbor, also grieved deeply.“Kasi close kami noon sir, yung tatay, kapitbahay kami. Pasensya, hindi namin nailigtas si tatay,” Villadar said.Hours later, rescuers managed to pull Gempisao to safety using a rope. He was dragged through the raging waters to the bridge. <div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/regions/2025/11/7/tino-wipes-out-riverside-communities-in-talisay-city-0816">Tino wipes out riverside communities in Talisay City </a> </div>The lifeless body of Alberto Enriquez  was found in another barangay. His wife, Lorna, broke down upon seeing him.“Bumabye pa siya, kumaway pa, nang makita ang katawan niya nakayakap pa siya sa kahoy. Ibig sabihin gusto pa niya mabuhay,” she said crying.Lorna shared that she had pleaded with her husband to evacuate earlier, but he refused to leave immediately. “Nagliligpit na siya, sabi ko punta ka na dito sa bridge. Susunod lang daw siya,” she recalled.Now, she struggles to cope with the loss. “Hindi ako makatulog, iyak pa rin ako ng iyak,” Lorna said.It wasn’t the first time Enriquez had faced such danger. During Typhoon Odette in December 2021, he had been rescued from rising floodwaters. But this time, fate was not as kind. As for Jomar Gempisao—the man who risked his own life to save his neighbor—he still cannot bring himself to return to Purok Isla Verde, one of the communities most devastated by Typhoon Tino.

Exhausted and injured, the elderly Enriquez pleaded for the two men to leave him behind.

Exhausted and injured, the elderly Enriquez pleaded for the two men to leave him behind.

Heartbreak in floodwaters: Rescue ends in tragedy

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Heartbreak in floodwaters: Rescue ends in tragedy

Dennis Datu,

ABS-CBN News

Published Nov 08, 2025 06:24 PM PHT

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Tino

Purok isla verde

Talisay city

Rescue operations

cebu

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