After being gone from the platform for almost two years, I got a lot of throwback thoughts. Here is a "recent" one...
In the morning of 27 July 2022, we were shocked by a strong tremor which I thought was a slight one at first. It intensified and we later found out from the news that it was magnitude 7.0.
After the main tremor, my nephew and I were having a quick chat. He was commenting about what we heard from our neighbors.
Our neighbors along the pathway right after the tremor.
Comment 1: the neighbors were screaming here and there.
My reply: Next time this happens, seek for safe place and pray. There is nothing else to do. Screaming even up for America to hear will not save you.
My thoughts now: your screaming may just cause unnecessary panic. People may not die because of earthquake but of heart attack because of you. Then you become the murderer.
Comment 2: Someone called someone else about the latter's children. We heard the caller saying "Hello, asan ka? Yong mga anak mo mamatay na, wala ka pa." That is "Hello, where are you? Your children are about to die and you're nowhere to be found."
My reply: Nobody anticipated the earthquake and no parent would intentionally leave their children in times of trouble. Do not judge them as if they are so irresponsible when you don't even know why they are away especially during crisis like this.
My thoughts afterwards: you may not get hurt of the earthquake but you may find your share of the pain with your very malicious grandstanding. So watch out for that too grandstanding.
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From Flashback to July 2022
I was also a first-hand witness of the 1990 magnitude 7.8 killer earthquake. It was in the same month of July, but the 16th on that year.
During the peak of tremor last 1990, I slumped on the floor and was holding on so tightly to the door jam. That was because I would have been thrown to and from both sideways if I hadn't hold on. This July, I was able to run to my dresser, save the two Marian images then run to my brother's room to the other side of the house.
In 1990, aftershocks were like almost every five minutes for few days. Those aftershocks seemed to be just a little weaker than the main tremor. After about 24 hours of the main tremor this year, I felt only the "first and third" aftershocks. I slept on the "second" one around 2:00am the following day.
In 1990, we camped (including sleeping) in a vacant lot nearby for days. This year, we did not have to go out.
In 1990, shards and debris were everywhere. Glasses broke at home, several buildings collapsed in Baguio City. This year, only a few items fell to the floor but nothing broke. No news of collapsed buding in Baguio City. What went viral was the news about only one house which construction in progress has collapsed in La Trinidad.
In 1990, I don't recall exactly how long work and classes were suspended but not as early as the same day yesterday when mayors of Baguio City and La Trinidad announced resumption of work today. If I recall it right, work and classes were suspended for at least one month in 1990.
So to the younger ones, fret not. What you have witnessed yesterday is not even half of that in 1990.
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When our class was resumed in 1990, the school hosted a symposium about moving on. I don't remember the exact title whether "Life must go on" or "Life goes on." One of the speakers discussed about earthquakes. She was saying that major earthquakes like what just happened occurs in 10 to 100 years of interval in the same area. Back then, 10 years seem so far away. Now, can the interval be never? For now, we can breath for at least 10 years without major earthquake tragedy in northern Luzon.
"Life goes on" or "Life must go on." Either way, we are all here, with you reading my post. That is a very big thanks to God with all the graces He is bestowing upon us. Let us continue our unceasing prayers... 🙏🙏🙏
Updated post from my FB page