Four years after the quake
Two days have passed since Central Visayas commemorated the 7.2-magnitude earthquake. It has been four years since the devastating quake happened. I remember clearly how our shelves shook that day with every object on it falling down one by one. My Garfield-lookalike cat stopped moving, looked at me, then ran under my bed. I was on my knees, shaking. The shaking lasted for about 30 seconds or more.
In Bohol, that 30 seconds meant a lifetime for them. It destroyed hundreds of houses and structures. It also brought about more than 200 fatalities. Hours after the quake, photos of the devastation were seen online. Bridges were broken, making it impossible for towns to deliver help to another. The creativity of every Filipino came out and we stuck by one another like true family. The aftershocks went on for the following days which brought back terrible memories and fear in every Boholano.
Four years later, I commemorated with the Boholanos. During the mass offered for the departed, many could not stop their tears. The memory was still very fresh to them as songs were sung, but they stood firm that what happened was just a phase in their life. To them, it was a trial in their peaceful lives and a testament of their faith in God.
Four years after, there is much to be fixed as well. Although the provincial government says that the completion of the rehabilitation is already at 100 percent, some areas still need attention. Other towns still have no proper water system and infrastructure after the quake. They blamed the bureaucratic system in calling out bids for prospective contractors. Other churches are also still in ruins. Up to today, patrons hear mass under makeshift tents. The government explained that the task is too complex to be finished in a short period of time.
If there were any lessons we have learned from the quake, it is about preparing for the worst. In Barangay Lintuan, Loon, Bohol, the residents themselves admitted that they built their houses to be strong only against the winds of a storm. They never expected an earthquake to happen. Every 15th of October, they remember the death of 73-year-old Sinona who did not survive the rubble that fell on her during the quake.
The tragedy was bittersweet -it opened a lot of doors and opportunities for the province despite the losses that they experienced. Every time we look back on it, we reflect on how we were as a country. Cebu at that time, who only suffered minor damage, were on their feet to send help to Bohol. I saw how everyone laid out what they had to help those who did not have food, clothing, or shelter in the adjacent province. I hope it was not just a one-time thing. We can all make this country a better one if we continue to foster ties with one another without asking for anything in return.