Davao City – A family’s leisure visit to a mall in Bajada during the Kadayawan festivities turned tragic after a father slipped inside a portable toilet and later died from his injuries.
On the evening of August 16, 2025, 45-year-old Epefanio B. Avelino accompanied his wife and family to the Lasa’t Kultura Davao 2025 event held at the Dome of NCCC Mall VP. At around 9:00 p.m., Avelino excused himself to use a portalet located at the mall’s outdoor area.
When he failed to return, his family began looking for him. Moments later, he was found collapsed on the ground, reportedly vomiting and bleeding.
At 9:07 p.m., a security guard discovered Avelino unconscious during clearing operations. Immediate first aid was administered by an NCCC staff member who is also a certified Emergency Medical Technician (EMT), before the mall’s care was turned over to the event bazaar’s medical team.
Avelino was then rushed to San Pedro Hospital by the event organizers for treatment. However, due to lack of facilities, he was later transferred to a larger private hospital in Bajada. Despite efforts to save him, Avelino passed away on August 20, 2025, four days after the accident.
His wife, Analou Bresenio Avelino, expressed grief not only over the loss of her husband but also over the family’s financial burden. The hospitalization costs reached ₱608,000, which the family said they could not afford. According to her, NCCC Mall extended ₱50,000 in assistance directly to the hospital, but she appealed for further help to settle the bill and secure her husband’s death certificate.
“We are deeply worried about how we can pay the hospital bill so we can claim the death certificate of my husband. I hope those with kind hearts can help us in this time of grief,” Mrs. Avelino pleaded in a Facebook post.
On August 22, 2025, NCCC Malls issued an official statement confirming the incident. The management conveyed condolences to the Avelino family and clarified that emergency response was immediately carried out on-site. They also reiterated that financial assistance was extended and that safety protocols were in place prior to the event, including a safety briefing with organizers and security teams on August 6, 2025.
The mall assured the public of its continued commitment to maintaining safety standards during all events within its premises.
Meanwhile, the Avelino family continues to appeal for public assistance to ease the financial strain brought by the tragic loss of their loved one.