When Home No Longer Feels Like Home – The Aftermath of the 6.9-Magnitude Earthquake in Northern Cebu, Philippines

"Where do you go when home no longer feels like home? "

This line has taken on a new meaning ever since the 6.9-magnitude earthquake struck Northern Cebu, Philippines, on September 30, 2025, at exactly 9:59 p.m. It shattered infrastructures—including our school, houses, roads, churches, and even the soundness of our minds. That one minute literally changed everything.

I still remember that night vividly, and what made it even more heartbreaking was that it happened on my birthday. A day that was supposed to be filled with laughter and celebration turned into one of fear and devastation.

Just hours earlier, I had invited my friends to my small birthday celebration. Around seven o’clock in the evening, they sang the “Happy Birthday” song cheerfully, then we ate and went upstairs for karaoke. We spent the night enjoying every moment, unaware of the catastrophe that was about to happen.

Then an hour later, one of my friends approached me and said she wanted to go home because she wasn’t feeling well. “But it’s still early, and besides, I don’t want you to go home alone. Can you stay for a few more minutes so someone can accompany you? ” I said. She agreed and stayed for about half an hour. We were so loud, singing our hearts out to every song we liked. After a few more minutes, that same friend approached me again, and this time, I agreed since some of my other friends were also planning to go home with her. Only three of them, who were supposed to stay overnight, were left. But a few minutes later, they decided to just go home instead, since it was still early and they had already run out of energy.

Right after everyone bid their sweetest goodbye, I went to bed to rest after the most fun day of my life. Just as I was about to fall asleep, a 6.9-magnitude earthquake struck, and I started panicking. It was so strong that I couldn't bare opening my eyes and held the edge of my bed. When the shaking stopped, my mother called all of us to go outside for safety. The first thought that came to my head was whether my friends had made it home safely. The waiting—the uncertainty—was unbearable. Every minute felt like an eternity until I finally received their messages. Thank God, they were all safe. My Mama calmed me down when she noticed I was shaking. Only then did I let out a breath I didn’t realize I was holding.

We had no choice but to stay outside, as the aftershocks continued to occur. So, my father hurriedly went inside our house to get sleeping mats and pillows for comfort. But none of us really had slept. I was just sitting in the corner and prayed the entire time.

When the sun rose, we roamed around and found damages in our house and backyard. It was terrifying that we could no longer get inside the house out of fear when the earthquake strikes again. Therefore, we gathered every resource we could to build our own temporary shelter – or so I thought. There was no electricity or water, so we spent the entire day preparing and trying to settle our emotions.

In the following days, my father and I went to Bogo City to charge all our phones since there were only a few generators available in our remote area. Bogo City was the epicenter of the 6.9 magnitude earthquake, located about 17 km from our place. As I look around, I can't help but get emotional about the corrosion and heartbreaking situation of the people caused by the earthquake. Houses collapsed, multiple landslides occurred, and ground ruptures were witnessed along the way. It felt as if I had missed an entire year in that place, when in fact, it was only a single night that had caused it all.

As we arrived and charged our phones, I saw the same friend who had approached me on my birthday to ask if she could go home early. I felt delighted to see her safe and sound. We talked almost an hour about the struggles we've experienced due to the earthquake. She then told me that it was life-saving that she had asked to leave early. And I agreed because if she hadn't asked me, I would have had no idea where they would be that night. Their decision spared them from the worst. I sincerely thank God for keeping all my friends and my family safe. It was the most precious birthday gift I could ever ask for.

Translation:
Thank you so much for your help here in Northern Cebu. Have a safe trip. God bless you all !

Even in the midst of tremors and uncertainty, what really amazed me and truly touched my heart was the bayanihan (community unity) of the Cebuano people. It only took a few days for them to deliver relief goods and send help for the victims of the Northern Cebu earthquake. My family is among the beneficiaries of the relief operation, and I am beyond grateful for every act of kindness extended to all of us. Seeing strangers come together reminds us that chivalry is not dead.

Along with my fellow SK officials, I volunteered in distributing relief packs and made sure everything was organized. To extend our help even further, we also initiated fundraising and donation drive to help the earthquake victims in our community. It was heartwarming to see the smiling faces of the people, especially the children, as they received the goods.

Weeks have passed, yet we are still staying outside. The aftershocks remain intense, and we couldn't risk each of our lives by going back indoors. This week, another strong earthquake struck with a magnitude of 5.8, causing renewed panic among people as it occurred at night again, around 1:06 a.m.

For now, we’re learning to cope with this unpleasant situation, even if it means staying outside for a while, as long as we're safe. We'll keep moving forward with faith and courage, holding on to the hope that better days will come.