Help Rebuild Portacio Scrap Trading After Fire

March 17, 2025, was a devastating day for my family in Taguig City in Manila, Philippines. The Portacio Scrap Trading warehouse - the Portacio family business established for almost three decades - was engulfed in flames in the early hours of the morning. Twenty-three fire trucks responded to the fire, and after three hours, firefighters finally regained control. The City Fire Marshal of Taguig reported that extinguishing the fire was difficult due to the thick smoke from the various recycled materials. Recycling equipment and several vehicles were also destroyed, resulting in damages estimated at 40M Philippine Pesos ($700K USD).

Portacio Scrap Trading served an important role in the community, collecting and buying scrap materials for recycling. Over the years, the business not only helped the environment but also supported the families of their employees. Fortunately, no one was seriously injured in the fire but many people in the community have been greatly affected by this tragic loss.

We are raising funds from our stateside friends and family to provide direct financial support for the Portacios to help reestablish the business that they worked so hard to build. Our dollar stretches a long way in the Philippines, so every donation, no matter how small, will help ease their burden and show them they are not alone in this difficult time. "Kapwa" is a precolonial Filipino value that translates to “kindred”, “neighbor”, and “fellow human.” To live in the spirit of Kapwa means to embrace our shared identity and care for our fellow beings. Though we are half a globe away, your support means the world to us.

Love,

The Coloma/Boyce Family