The day the earth shook, stood still: Remembering the 2012 Visayas quake

It was the day the world became restless and stood still—for us in the Visayas, at least.

 

At 11:49 that morning, a 6.9 magnitude earthquake, with an epicenter near the town of Tayasan in Negros Oriental, rocked the Visayas. And for a place like Dumaguete that seldom experiences quakes as strong, it sent everyone to sheer pandemonium.

 

I have to admit that thanks to that quake, I am scared even at the slightest form of shaking, whether or not it was caused by the ground. I've been carrying that fear for exactly three years now.

 

Catastrophic day

 

I was a college student in my sophomore year back then, working at Silliman University's information office in Dumaguete City as a student assistant. Just as we were about to get ready for lunch break, disaster struck.

 

It came too violently. An officemate first felt the temblor and shrieked, "LINOG (Earthquake)!" and I immediately rushed under the table nearest to me. At first I thought this would pass because we were trained for what to do before, during, and after an earthquake. I tried to hold back my fear, but when the paintings started to fall off the walls, I couldn't hold it any longer. I fought back tears while whispering under my breath, "Lord, please, enough na. Igo na (Tama na), Lord."

 

After the shaking, our boss, who came from a meeting, ran to our office and led us all out. Scenes of terror unfolded as I saw other employees from other offices trying to get to the open field outside the building we were in; I even saw a woman trying to deal with a heart attack.

At first I thought, "Thank God I'm safe." But the next thought was rather unsettling: "How about Mom and Dad?"

 

Classes were immediately suspended that afternoon, so I drove to the school where Mom was teaching to check on how she was doing. She and Dad were okay, but a strong aftershock struck during lunch break. All the students in the canteen were terrified, with some even crying.

 

But as it turned out, the real terror was just about to unfold.

 

Exodus

 

A few hours after the initial shock, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) issued a tsunami alert at Level 2.

Unfortunately, not a lot of people (including myself then) knew what that meant. This, along with rumors of an imminent tsunami spreading through text messages and word of mouth, made many rush for refuge to the uphill town of Valencia, with some even bringing their goats and other important belongings. The same thing that happened in Cebu City.

 

The tsunami rumor, however, turned out to be a hoax.

 

Tragedy

 

Though Dumaguete was one of the cities where the quake was felt strongest, it was in the towns up north that experienced the most catastrophic aftermath. A part of a mountain in La Libertad town slid following the quake, burying hundreds of homes and several people alive.

In a documentary we produced a year after the quake, a couple of families shared their joys and woes while living inside Tent City, a settlement in Guihulngan funded by international organizations. Apparently, the catastrophe was felt much more some time after the disaster itself.

 

How do we prepare for 'The Big One'?

 

Now that I live in Manila, I can't help but worry about the possibility that a major earthquake might hit us here—especially because a big fault, the West Valley Fault, runs practically through the entire metro. As experts put it, it's a "disaster waiting to happen." But how do we prepare for it?

 

Here are some lessons I can share from experience:

 

Do not fall for rumors. Count on reliable sources for updates and warnings. If a neighbor or friends tell or text you about an imminent tsunami, it's more likely a hoax. Also, do not believe text messages about imminent earthquakes, because the technology to predict earthquakes hasn't been invented yet.

 

Be sure where to go and what to do before, during, and after an earthquake. Most schools and offices have posters on how to prepare for possible temblors. Instead of just passing by bulletin boards, take the time to read them. They might just save your life when disaster strikes.

 

Avoid panicking. Like, ever. Panic will only bring you more harm than good. The situation might be terrifying, but it still pays to come down. The more you panic, the more you put your life at risk. 

 

We never know when a quake comes. But being ready for anything goes a long, long way. — VC, GMA News