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Neighbors described them as a very sweet couple even in their old age.
Alberto ?Berting? Alcazaren, 84 and his wife, Lydia, 85, of barangay Langtad in Argao town, Cebu were inseparable up to their last moments.
Their charred remains were found inside the bathroom of their home, which burned down Friday night.
They were found lying on the floor and facing each other with Alberto holding the hands of his wife. Lydia was clutching a Bible.
The tragedy was believed caused by an untended bonfire in the house. The couple had a habit of burning leaves and twigs at night inside the concrete walled bathroom to drive away mosquitoes.
They lived alone in the house, which is surrounded by bamboo trees, said SPO2 Manuel Banogon of Argao police station.
The house was made of light materials. Only the bathroom was made of concrete hollow blocks.
This was the second fire to kill an elderly couple in Cebu this month, Fire Prevention Month.
On Thursday, lawyer Manuel Pastrana, 79, and his wife, Norma, 74 , together with their house helper died after they were trapped inside their burning house in Banawa, barangay Guadalupe, Cebu City.
Aladin Comali, 29, a neighbor of the Alcazarens, said at around 8 p.m. on Friday he heard twigs of bamboo trees that seemed to be burning. But he just took it for granted since he used to the couple?s habit of making a bonfire to drive away insects at night.
At around 8:40 p.m., he heard neighbors shouting for help to stop the fire.
SFO1 Kevin Rodriguez said they received the report at 8:45 pm. The fire station is three kilometers from the house.
Rodriguez said they had difficulty reaching the site in the interior part of barangay Lagtang. They had to connect at least four fire hoses to reach the site.
When firemen arrived, the house was already 60 to 80 percent destroyed. The fire was finally put out at 9 p.m.
The couple?s charred remains were found inside the bathroom.
Rodriguez said they were amazed to find the woman clutching a Bible, which was not destroyed in the flames.
Based on their investigation, the fire was started by the couple in the bathroom, their usual practice for the past several years but the bonfire went out of control.
Rodriguez said the couple may have failed to escape because they had a hard time walking due to their old age.
According to neighbors, Lydia could hardly see while the husband had difficulty in hearing.
Neighbors tried to rescue the couple but the fire had already gutted half of the house.
The couple's remains were brought to Tupas funeral parlor in Carcar City.
A wake will be held in the barangay's chapel before they will be buried./WITH CORRESPONDENT CHITO O. ARAGON
