Lessons from the quake

It was exactly a week when it happened - I was about to get ready for a long day at the city when the earth shook beneath my feet. I didn't panic; those earthquake drills in school paid off. But I can hear our neighbors shouting and their porcelain smashing to the ground. For 60 seconds it lasted, I sat still and waited for the shaking to stop.

Soon after, news broke out that Bohol's prestigious churches, which were our historical gems have toppled down to pieces. In the neighboring island, the earthquake's epicenter damaged their infrastructure including bridges, town halls and the like. It was hard for vehicles to pass. Food and water were depleting.

Then relief operations by different organizations started to plummet in full gear. Everyone did their part by donating and repacking the goods before they were shipped off to Bohol. Every goodie bag was accompanied with a glimmer of hope that Bohol will definitely rise again.

The classic earthquake protocol "Keep calm" has definitely a truth to itself even if it seems so hard to do for some. Running aimlessly would not do any good as we have witnessed last year during the infamous tsunami scare. Some of the foreigners  felt intimidated that people were running everywhere and they were left puzzled.

I do not know if it is a Filipino thing to run, or just lack of teaching about the basics in an earthquake, but I definitely know that it will bring harm just like the stampede at Pinamungajan.

Now, hoax messages have been circulating that stronger quakes will occur when the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS) already said earlier that this is impossible to happen yet many believed and felt terrified. I'm one thankful person for the information highway but this incident is an insult to government agencies like PHIVOLCS and the media. Information like these should be taken from credible and reliable sources.

With all these going on plus the threat of aftershocks in a month's time, prayer will make us still and resilient. That's how we are as Filipinos. We may have differences with beliefs but our faith in God will never waiver. Churches may have crumbled to the ground but we managed to stand tall. What we should be thanking for is the lives that were spared because of the Muslim holiday.

Everything was new to us and we came unprepared. Cebu is not friendly to earthquakes and so is Central Visayas. Somehow the sixty seconds that held my life on the morning of the 15th of October gave me valuable life lessons that I wouldn't forget.

At the end of the day, it is our choice to get up and move on. Cebu is lucky that the hit was not a fatal blow yet some are still scared to go out of their homes and live their life to normal. As for me, I chose to go out and extend my help to those who need it the most. It is through one another that we will stand our feet again.

The concept of Bayanihan becomes real in this modern era as we work in our ways to help our fellowmen. To a young person like me, it makes me smile to see volunteers of all ages work in a systematic order to help Bohol rise again.

I consider the quake to be a test of our race yet personally, there are a lot of events that may shake our lives tremendously such as a failed relationship, low grade, delinquent child and probably a devastating disaster. Yet through it all is the faith in God that remains no matter how strong the intensity would be.

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Rizal's life comes to reality in an original musical play produced by Hiyas Kayumanggi on Oct. 25 and 26 at Onstage, Ayala Center Cebu.