| 04.22.2019 – There hasn’t been a major catastrophe in the Philippines when you talk about Earthquake in the last thirty years. Most of the things that go wrong are from typhoons that displaced communities and disrupting economies in the archipelago. It is not common either that it happened within Central Luzon that rocked Metro Manila all of sudden.
Its reality that is unexpected to happen and most take it with humor and then others just plainly silently hope that the next one won’t be as bad as the first one. Earthquakes happen because it has been part of nature as long as everyone can remember. It just so happens that the context about these things can sometimes bring a few people to what really matters to their lives. |
I happen to be heading out from the office just waiting for the computer to permanently shut down when things started shaking. Based on the reports that went out the quake lasted almost a minute and then suddenly a crowd started the come out in the streets where I was located.
People started pouring out in the streets talking in commotion, but there’s no immediate panic just hesitation when an earthquake has made a huge impact on society. Everything started swaying in different directions, not just some fictional catastrophe made into a graphic novel. But it is a serious matter that should not be taken lightly by most that dwell the social media.
Crowded Build up at the Old Town
Upon emerging out of the building Escolta has people standing and sitting along the sidewalk or street. It is an uncommon perspective that people have filled the area. Traffic also has started to build up and things were unexpected when will the aftershocks will it the country. I headed to the Carriedo LRT station and waited for the next train as whenever there’s one arriving its coaches are filled up.
I’ve waited for the third or fourth train that had fewer passengers than packed like a sardine. The last time there was a major earthquake was on 16 July 1990, and I was on a jeepney heading home from school and upon getting off there was heavy rain that poured that got me all drenched up. Fast forward to now there was no rain, in fact, the weather was just right that was oddly the weirdest.
Closed in All Directions in the CBD
The jeepneys kept on coming where most people were in the rush to take the next destination mostly home to their families and love ones. I was thinking of having dinner before I head out just to make the detour to one of the major shopping centers in Makati. But once I got off the jeep and had arrived going through the nearby city parks there were a large amount of people seated in the benches.
Some just waiting for time to ease down after the quake and by the time I end up in Greenbelt the whole establishment was closed. This dawned before me to see people just waiting for their ride home while others glued to their phones waiting for updates. It was not that chaotic but eerie that huge crowds still wondering where to take the quickest ride out of the city.
Everything Shutdown
It was timing that I was able to take the LRT which news has it has stopped operations and the same way has been done with the MRT. All elevated trains have been stopped to ensure safety for the commuter and it was really the right thing to do as to assess the damage that the earthquake has sustained in everything that affected this catastrophe.
“Catastrophe” is a very strong word you may suggest something close to what is happening as while the trains have been closed off news on Grab Taxi and other services have become unavailable. It was a stressful Monday where it was supposed to be known as Earth Day, which was coincidentally a reminder that humans have damaged this planet and probably this is a message to remind everyone.
Reality of What Matters
Since most of the food establishments have closed I decided to go already and decided to have dinner at home instead. While heading out I observed Dela Rosa Street while taking the elevated walkways and see people’s reaction during the aftermath. It’s not late but you’ll see how tremendous this affects society and civilization as a whole.
At the end of the walkway the recently opened Ayala North Exchange had some food establishments are conducting their “soft opening”, but the guards has turned people away due to security reasons and earthquake. After getting out from the building since its connected to the walkway just across is the Teleperformance building where call centers work. There a huge crowd sat there while being entertained by the Wish 107.5 FM mobile bus.
Most people are still stranded while glued to social media that sometimes they take it too seriously that they over manufacture drama. But just being straightforward accepting reality that things don’t last forever and value those who have been around. This might not be a major earthquake but you may not know there might be a stronger one that you need to be ready.
Fearing the unknown is normal just always be ready for anything with this magnitude, for now let’s see what we can do to survive and hope for the best course of action.
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