Hello hivers! sorry for I have been inactive for some days already due to some emergency. I want to take this moment to ask and call for help.
On the night of September 30, everything changed so fast. I was at home when I first heard the news from a family member. They said that North Cebu was hit by a strong earthquake, with a magnitude of 6.9. My heart immediately dropped when I heard it, because my mother’s sister lives there. I could not sit still after knowing that. Together with my family, we quickly prepared ourselves and went straight to North Cebu to check on her.
The whole trip felt so long and heavy. It was already dark, but the news kept repeating in my mind. I kept asking myself, “Are they okay? Is my aunt safe? What happened to their house?” It was one of the longest rides I had ever felt, because every second I only wanted to see my aunt and make sure she was alive and fine.
When we finally reached Bogo City, the sight shocked me. The city looked like ground zero. Many infrastructures had collapsed, and some roads were hard to pass through. Streetlights were broken, walls had cracks, and the whole place felt different like a city that suddenly lost its color.
People were outside, staying in open spaces because no one dared to stay inside buildings anymore.
When we reached my auntie’s place, another sad sight welcomed us. Her house was totally gone. It had collapsed during the earthquake, leaving only broken parts of wood and concrete. My auntie and her family were already outside on the street, sitting with other people who were also afraid to go back inside their homes. We ran to hug them, and I felt relief knowing that they were safe even if they lost their house.
That night, we stayed with them. It was very scary because aftershocks kept coming. Almost every few minutes, the ground would shake again. Sometimes it was strong, sometimes light, but still enough to make everyone panic. People would stand up, some would scream, and all of us were always alert. Later we learned that more than 2,000 aftershocks were already recorded. No wonder no one could sleep properly.
We had only a few goods with us some food, water, and small supplies. It was not much, but at least it helped us get by. Many families around us also had only a little, and everyone was waiting for more help to arrive. The sad part was that we didn’t know when it would come. Volunteers and rescue teams were trying their best, but there were so many people who needed assistance.
Sleeping outside was not easy. The ground was hard and the night air was cold. Some used blankets, some only had mats, and others just sat through the night. But everyone chose to stay outside because it was safer than being inside. Every aftershock reminded us that a stronger one could still come, so safety came first.
During the day, the city looked even more heartbreaking. Schools, houses, and even churches had damages. Stores were closed, and many people just stayed in open areas where they felt safer. The whole place felt silent in a sad way, even if many people were gathered outside. Everyone was still shocked about what happened.
Even though everything felt heavy, I was still thankful that my auntie and her family were alive. Buildings can be fixed, houses can be rebuilt, but lives cannot be replaced. That was what gave me comfort that night. Seeing her alive, smiling a little despite losing her home, gave me strength to also stay positive.
My family and I stayed with them for a while, always moving when we felt another aftershock. It was tiring, but at least we were all together. That was the only thing that mattered most to me. Being with family made the scary situation a little lighter.
Now, we are still waiting for help, still sleeping in open spaces, still alert for aftershocks. Life is not yet back to normal, but we are trying to move forward one day at a time. I realized that in moments like this, what matters most is not the house, the things, or the comfort we lose it is the family and loved ones who are still alive with us.
It is scary, yes, but as long as we are together as a family, I know we can face it. The ground may shake, houses may fall, but love and unity will always keep us standing strong.
If anyone with kind heart want to donate even small amounts it would be a great help to us already for basic needs! thank you hivers!