| The day started with slightly muggy weather, and it wasn’t the usual bright and sunny disposition while getting ready to leave to head out to the municipal town of Baganga for an early morning supply run. It’s Friday, and people are getting up to start their day before the weekend happens with the usual routine.
Personally, the day seems slow, and something was a bit off as I saw the grey sky, and the sun wasn’t as bright as usual. Traveling from Kinablangan to Baganga, 40 minutes to almost an hour away, just to go on a supply run. Nothing was happening on the road while we headed to our destination. This day seemed so strange that I did not totally ignore it, but this morning does not have the usual feel to it. |
We went straight to Bagangs to get some important errands done before we head to the shops and local markets. We made sure to get everything prioritized, and the rest of the mornings started to feel slow and mundane. It was good to have everything brought from the local wet market.
There was nothing much to say, but waiting for a relative to do the shopping while I was stuck seated in the tricycle made me feel anxious to check the local vendors since I had never had breakfast before we left the house. There were interesting things in the area that Kinablangan has to offer. But I hesitated, just waited while I checked on the updates back in Manila since I’ve been here for more than two months already.
The Shaking was Gradual
After everything was loaded at the back of the tricycle filled with a basket full of vegetables, eggs, and other things. We left, crossing the Baganga Bridge, cruising along while motorcycle riders passed by us as I admired the view. The weather was quite normal, but I’m not feeling the day since we left Kinablangan.
Personally, I’m excited to check Mr. D.I.Y. since the last time we were there, the funds were dried up and we only bought something for myself. Before we even reached the store, the trike we’re on started wobbling, and the next thing was that we saw was that we saw the lampposts along the road moved like loose sticks.
When we arrived a few meters from Mr. D.I.Y., things went from a nudge to a full-on shake to the point that it felt that the building was about to be tested for the way it was built. The people from the building started running in panic, while one woman started screaming in her native dialect that someone was still inside Mr. D.I.Y. The horrified staff and customers were cowering for their lives.
Post Aftermaths
The earthquake lasted more than a minute as we watched in horror that the Mr. D.I.Y building started to shake like it was about to be destroyed. I got to film a portion of the quake near the tail end, where everyone from the building was rushing out. You can hear people look in horror, praying to their various types of religion.
I was calm and looked at the surrounding areas, which reminded me back in July 1990, when I was in my sophomore year in high school. I was caught in the strong rain that got me drenched, and the same “feel” of the weather after the heavy rain seems so odd that it feels like something big is coming that you won’t expect will happen. You can draw your conclusions that it felt like the world was about to end.
The Philippines sits in the ring of fire, and it is expected that earthquakes will happen, but you will not know when they will happen. Just as I witnessed the newly built Mr. D.I.Y. building that opened more than a year ago would be tested in this unexpected situation, as well as the surrounding area of Baganga.
Damages along the way
We left after the earthquake had stopped, as people along the road were standing and worried about the aftershocks that would come. It was tough to see people crying and screaming that this will be a trauma to their Mental Health, as I calmly looked and observed as I tried to snap pictures.
The ER Supermall was shut down immediately as power was cut, while staff and security were at the entrance assessing the damage. Meanwhile, vehicles on the road were rushing to check on their families. There was pandemonium, while some of the people outside their homes looked shaken from this ordeal.
We cancelled everything and decided to hurry home to check on the elderly. It was really a challenging day as we passed by 7 Eleven in Lambajon, where all their windows were broken as if there were a huge fight involved. Some students were dining indoors, looking in disbelief that the only convenience store in the region felt like it wouldn’t survive the next aftershocks.
Cracked Roads and Bridges
The buildings were shaken and some were nearly destroyed, and we also noticed that the roads have cracks (DPWH, we’re watching you!). The recently finished road widening project shows its cracks on the concrete. It was not spared, while one bridge had a bump in the middle and at the end of a connecting road.
It was like a giant went on a rampage and made some serious damage in some of the local establishments, and was wildly running uncontrollably. We almost reached Kinablangan, where some of the people are trying to get a ride back to their homes, as classes were immediately suspended.
Home with Broken Glasses
Finally, we made it back, and electricity was out, and we started helping out on the cleanup as broken glass was all over the floor, with a shattered bottle of wine spilled. We just recently had renovations, and this was the perspective we ended up with. What was important was that everyone was safe.
We’re not checking for cracks and other broken things around the house. There was one aftershock while I was sweeping the floor for broken china. There was one cup that survived. Some of them were almost 20 years old when the house was built in 2000, and it stood the test of time, even super typhoon Pablo in 2012.
At the end of the day, no one is prepared for this, and you make use of your guts to find a way to be safe whenever an unexpected thing can happen.
To be blunt about this, no matter how you pray, things like this will eventually happen, and all you need is your wits and smarts to survive. No amount of divine intervention will save you, but yourself.
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