Rhodora Alcaraz, a Filipina domestic worker whose actions during a fatal apartment fire in Hong Kong drew widespread praise, arrived in the Philippines on Tuesday, where she was received by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. along with other government officials.
Alcaraz was among those caught in the November 26 fire at Wang Fuk Court in Tai Po, an incident that authorities said turned deadly as flames raced through high-rise buildings undergoing extensive renovation. The blaze ultimately claimed at least 160 lives, ranking it as the world’s deadliest residential building fire since 1980.
At the height of the emergency, Alcaraz—then 28 and newly employed—was trapped inside a smoke-choked unit with her employers’ three-month-old baby. According to her sister, Raychelle Loreto, she wrapped the infant in a damp blanket and held the child close for several hours while waiting for rescuers to reach them.
Firefighters later pulled them to safety, and Alcaraz was brought to a hospital for treatment following the ordeal.
In the days after the fire, members of the Filipino community in Hong Kong cited her actions as an example of selflessness, with many referring to her as a “modern-day hero.” She has since been widely portrayed as a symbol of bravery and compassion among overseas Filipinos.
Investigators earlier pointed to construction-related factors that may have intensified the blaze. The residential blocks were covered with bamboo scaffolding and protective netting that authorities said did not meet fire-resistance standards, allowing flames to spread rapidly upward. Foam boards installed on windows as part of the renovation were also cited as contributing to the fire’s rapid expansion.
Police have arrested 15 individuals connected to various construction firms on suspicion of manslaughter, while six others were taken into custody over fire alarms that reportedly failed to activate during the incident.
