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| *. Basilica del Sto. Nino belfry destroyed |
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| *. a road in Bohol reduced to pieces in nature's wrath |
*. photos courtesy from the net
It was a lovely Tuesday morning; a holiday in celebration of the Eid Al-Adha. No work, just play. I had the day planned out and as soon as I had everything in order, I routinely indulged myself to my usual morning bonding time with Hope. Harperoo was exercising her independence as she explores things on her own but still close enough for tugging and playing. As I was playing with Hope, all of a sudden the house was shaking. Not swaying, shaking in tremors as if a thousand drilling machines were upon us. Harperoo looked at me with her big round eyes and as I grabbed her, it took me seconds to yell out, "Linog! (Earthquake!)" Super A ran from our room to the living area where we were and jumped to my left side in fetal position, crying. Harperoo was on my right side seeming to be wondering scared about what's happening around her. Nang Fids, our new help, who was initially a figure of assurance in the first few seconds is now panicking and screaming at our face when the shaking didn't stop. This rubbed on Hope who was now starting to cry-scream.
As I was faced with the possibility of doom, I began to think if we can crawl under the couch but didn't even allow myself to think elaborately enough because I found it hard to do as I had Hope who was 6 months old, my toddler Harperoo and my special son, Super A. How can I grab the three of them altogether without hurting especially Hope who is still very fragile? It would've been easier to just join the chorus of chaos but I guess I did what every mother is forced to do in times like this. Put on a brave face. I embraced my kids. I prayed and called out God's name again and again as if this is my power-weapon to stop the earthquake. And I actually believed it stopped the shaking. It is true how you transform (disillusion) yourself with supernatural powers to protect your kids.
When the pandemonium stopped, that's when I trembled and cried. I shudder at the thought of losing any of my children. I called up family and friends thereafter.
The Oct 15 earthquake was the strongest Cebu has been hit thus far. The epicenter was in Bohol with a magnitude of 7.2 equivalent to 32 Hiroshima bombs. What's terribly a frightening thought is that impactful earthquakes seem to be happening in the Visayas every year. Last year, we had the 6.7 quake and hoax tsunami tandem.
As to the damages and casualties, I don't even want to go there. This earthquake rocked not only the region's grounds but also our spirit. Sleep is elusive. Fear is our shadow and even the passage of anything, even a cat, that leaves a vibration bolts us. It is resolved to ingraining into our anxious-ness as aftershocks after aftershocks are, well, shocking the region. And they don't come un-notice. They come in waves and a number of them are felt enough to shatter our peace of mind (and hearts) with one clocking in a magnitude of 5.5. Sigh...oops, there's another one. Oh gosh, just vertigo. Geez.
While our spirits were shaken the first few days of the aftermath, we know that we cannot let this disaster take over our lives. The Cebuano-Filipino lot is really of the supernatural-super power kind. Just days after the quake, Cebu and Bohol got up to its feet and proudly tagged the recovery process as #Bangon SugBohol. Relief efforts were grinding, donations came pouring from all over the country and the rebuilding process begins, and this is not without the help of our brothers and sisters in Luzon and Mindanao.
Other parts of Bohol especially Loon and Maribojoc still need help as it will take months to fully recover. Here's a compilation on how to help with reference from Rappler. Click #ReliefPH here for details.
OVERSEAS/ONLINE DONATION
*. Ayala Foundation accepts online donations for both US-based and local donors. For bank donations, ATM, online, mobile, and over-the-counter transactions are accepted in its BPI account no: Account No: 0011-1335-41
Merchant Name: Ayala Foundation, Inc.
Reference Number: D315004 + Donor's name
NATIONAL
*. The Philippine Red Cross is accepting donations in various forms, including PayPal, Cash, Check, Bank Deposit, or in-kind donations. Kindly check out the Philippine Red Cross donations page for additional details. You can also follow the Philippine Red Cross on Twitter for updates and links to information.
*. UP Cebu: AS Kubo/ Catwalk, contact Merl Escobia at 0933 459 9915
*. Petron Corporation has activated 500 Petron stations nationwide to accept donations for the earthquake victims. Look for the SAGIP ALALAY sign.
*. Lingap Gabriela is accepting donations in the form of bottled water, ready to eat food, rice, canned goods, instant noodles, mats, blankets, clothes, diapers, sanitary napkins and medicine for cough, colds, fever and diarrhea and cash donations. Metro Manila drop off points are at 25 K-10th St. West Kamias, Quezon City (4341039) and 35 Sct Delgado St. Brgy Laging Handa, Quezon City (374423). Bohol drop off point is at FARDEC office Lower Butalid St. Tagbiliran City (09125949170).
NCR
*. World Vision, an international Christian humanitarian, development and relief organization, is accepting donations for the Visayas earthquake survivors. You maycall their donor hotline at 372-7777 or log on to their website: http://worldvision.org.ph/relief-response/earthquakeph
VISAYAS
*. Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) is calling for volunteers in Cebu and Bohol to help with repacking of relief goods for earthquake survivors. Donations are also welcome.
*. In Cebu province, the DSWD-7 Regional Office is at the corner of M.J Cuenco Avean General Maxilom Ave, Cebu City. Contact Supply Officer Edward Dapiton or DSWD Region 7 DRRM focal person Jennifer Abastillas at 09176677138.
*. In Bohol province, the DSWD Social Welfare and Deveopment (SWAD) Team Office is located at the Circumferential Road, Dampas District, Tagbiliran City. Contact Bohol Team Leader Papiasa Bustrillos at (032) 232-9507
*. Aboitiz Group is conducting relief operations for the victims of the earthquake in Visayas. For concerns, you may contact the following Aboitiz Foundation representatives: Danny Cerence (Coordination) – 09176308172 and Rowena Astillo (Donations) – 09176304484. Please send cash donations to the Aboitiz Foundation through the following:
- Aboitiz Foundation's UShare portal http://ushare.unionbankph.com/aboitiz
- Union Bank of the Philippines Account No. 10026-1070944
- City Savings Bank Account No. 200-20031301
*. Gawad Kalinga Cebu chapter is now activating Operation Walang Iwanan for Bohol. Drop off points: GK Cebu Office at the old DOST Office in Banilad beside NFA and Human Nature Office in Bohol near the Tagbilaran City Port.
*. UP KadBol Cebu Chapter is accepting donations in the form of canned goods, noodles, rice and clothes. To those interested, you may contact Merl Escobia at 09339436922. Drop off point: UP Cebu campus (guard house), Gorordo Avenue, Lahug, Cebu City.
*. The University of Cebu is now accepting donations for the victims of the earthquake. Drop off point: University of Cebu Banilad campus. For cash donations from abroad or other parts of the country, here are the details: Account name is University of Cebu, peso account no. is 2420075 958. For inquiries you may also call UC Banilad +63322338888.
