The Philippines once again finds itself in a period of mourning and worry. After Bagyong “Opong” battered parts of the Visayas, bringing heavy rains and floods, another tragedy struck—a magnitude 6.9 earthquake centered in Cebu. In the middle of recovery from the storm, the ground shook violently, collapsing homes, toppling structures, and claiming lives. Reports showed deaths, dozens injured, and millions worth of damage across the province. Families lost not only property but also loved ones, and the fear of aftershocks continues to haunt Cebu and neighboring areas.
Here in Capiz, the tremor reached us as well. Na batyagan ko ang pag-uyog sang akon pulongkuan bangod sang lindol. For a moment, silence filled the streets, broken only by voices calling out: “Okay ka lang? Safe kamo tanan?” Fear turned into prayer, as people realized how fragile life can be when disaster strikes without warning.
The storm’s aftermath was no less punishing. Nakalusong man ako sa tubig nga asta sa tuhod sa karsada, trying to wade through floodwaters just to reach higher ground. In many barangays, families stood by their doors with pails, bailing out water as fast as it entered their homes. Children clung to their parents, while elders whispered short prayers under their breath. The floods left behind not only mud but also exhaustion, hunger, and uncertainty.
Cebu’s tragedy reminds us of a painful truth, that disaster after disaster leaves scars not easily healed. Death tolls are reported like numbers, yet behind each statistic is a grieving family. Damaged roads and buildings mean disrupted lives, lost jobs, and broken communities. Even provinces like ours, spared from the epicenter, feel the tremors of loss and anxiety.
Still, amid destruction, the Filipino spirit continues to rise. Neighbors helping neighbors, strangers offering food, volunteers extending aid, these acts of kindness prove that bayanihan has not faded. Sa pihak sang tanan nga trahedya, ang pumuluyo indi nagapabilin nga magluya. Yet the question lingers, how many more disasters must we endure before true preparedness becomes a priority?
Ano pa ang masunod? Another storm? Another quake? The cycle feels endless. And while nature may always test us, what must change is our response. We cannot afford to live in fear, only reacting when the worst has already come. Instead, we must demand stronger systems, safer infrastructure, and leaders who place resilience at the center of planning.
For now, we endure. But we must also learn, rebuild, and insist on a safer tomorrow.
