When calamity strikes the "paradise"

October 15, 2013...the day I won't forget. 

It was 8:12 am. 

I was fast asleep when I woke up suddenly because my bed was shaking. I knew there was an Earthquake. But for awhile I was shocked and temporarily paralyzed. I should have hide under my bed or under a table but I didn't.  My mind is not yet on an "awake" state, I just lay there and waited for it to stop. How "stupid" of me you will say, but when you just woke up and everything around you is shaking and your all alone, you might "understand" me.

It was a 30 seconds intensity 7.2 earthquake with an epicenter near Catigbian and Sagbayan in Bohol, 58 kilometers away from where I was at, the capital Tagbilaran City. When I did manage to get out of my room, I saw people running and I was told that there is tsunami. My mind is like "Is it the end of the world?!". But I somehow "manage" not to panicked, in my mind I said, if this is the end then so be it and my aunt told us to Pray. 

I didn't knew how bad the earthquake was, all I knew is that, it was a very  strong earthquake and I havn't experience anything like that since the 1990 earthquake in Luzon. With no electricity, I actually rely on my mother and my friends who texted me at that time asking me how I am. I asked them what is the news about Bohol. It was from them that I found out that Bohol was strucked by an intensity 7.2 earthquake and the epicenter is in Bohol. It was through the "outside" source that I realize how badly Bohol was hit by the eathquake. 

It took hours before the electricy went back. I'd like to think that everything went back to normal, having not seen any destruction yet at least on the area I was at. But it was only when I watched the evening news that the extent of the damage done by the earthquake become a reality to me. Much more on the next day when we went back the hotel building and saw the damage in the hotel and the restaurant where I am working. We develop some kind of a "phobia" because the aftershocks is felt almost every hour. 

And the Church "crumbles"

Six centuries old churches were badly damaged. This churches are considered National Cultural Treasure, because of how "old" this churches are, Our Lady of Immaculate Conception in Baclayon for instance is considered the oldest church in the Philippines.  And it saddens me to know that the Church of San Pedro in Loboc, the church were I was baptized, that I actually featured in this blog was one of the many damaged church in the province.  

Me infront of the church in Loboc taken just few months ago.

I am actually about to write a blog about "Loboc" with the pictures that I took at the place when I visited it months ago. I was inspired on how simple the place was. Now that the damage has been done its bitter sweet for me to realize that at least I had a "best" capture moment of the place when everything was peaceful and when devastation didn't strike yet this simple and quiet town. You know when they said that at least you have your picture and your memories. That is how it is for me. 

The simple and quiet town of Loboc, Bohol

Baclayon Church

The Church in Dauis Bohol before it was ruined.

                           

My mother with the Belfry in Loboc

Almost 200 people died, one of the dealiest quake that hit the Visaya's region. Bridges, buildings and not even low rise houses are spared from the devastation brought by this earthquake to the place that I now called home. The "destruction" of the many churches in Bohol speaks volume to me. Most of these churches we're build as far back as the 16th century, when the Philippines was under the colonization of Spain. It withstand the test of time so to speak, but that is not true now...these churches crumbled and now in ruins. It is a great lost as far as national heritage is consider. It is a "heritage" and it saddens me that the future genaration wont be able to see a great piece of our country's history.

For someone like me who "love" Bohol and take pride of its National Treasure. This scene is "heartbreaking"

Loboc Church On and Before the Earthquake:

Baclayon church after the earthquake

The Belfry in Loboc Bohol 

The Fame Chocolate Hills and one of its viewing deck...now in ruins:

Some say it is a force of nature, it is a "natural calamity" and it really  can happen in the Philippines, a country which is considered to be in the "ring of  fire". Maybe it is a "wake up call".  Maybe it is also a reminder for all of us...that when calamity such as a magnitude of an earthquake, you realize what is "really"  important.

When you wake up and the earth is shaking ..., what are you going to do, what are you going to bring with you? not your cellphone or your designer bag or shoes etc, none of the materials things that you possessed.. You are going to save  yourself and you hold on to your faith. 

And I never thought that I would write a blog post such as this. Who would have thought that this will happen to Bohol. The province that is rarely "visited" by typhoon and no recorded calamity for years. It is hearthbreaking for me but somehow I am "compelled" to write something about it.

I take much pride of my birthplace Bohol. And I know in my heart, that although for now it would be "diffucult" for Boholano to face life amidst the destruction all around them, in time with alot of  HELP. Bohol will get back on its feet and will survive this tragedy.

Why did God let a calamity happen in his paradise? You might asked. But I got an answer to my question thru this picture. 

FAITH IN THE MIDST OF RUINS.

                Boholono will hold on to its faith no matter what. Together they will rebuild their churches, rebuild thier faith and rebuild thier lives. God Bless Bohol.



Earthquake photo courtesy of
newsinfo.inquirer.net
ph.news.yahoo.com

My Ultimate Travel Buddy!

                                I did say that this blog is all about "living life to the fullest" and to travel is one sure way of doing that. But this blogspot is also about inspiration, life and love. And who is that one person who has been my inspiration, my life and my source of unconditional love here on earth...it is my mother.

                              As she celebrate her 65th birthday, I am inspired to write a blog post about my mother, who I consider as my "ultimate travel buddy". I am blessed to have a mother like her, I'm sure you feel the same way to your own mom as well. I encourage you to take your parents, your mother or your father with you in a vacation even if it is just a simple out of town trip nearby. Not only that you will have that "bonding" moment with the one who loves you unconditionally, but when you spend your time them, you will learn to appreciate them even more. 

                   

                                 Here are my Ten Reasons why I love my mama. :-)

1.And so you wonder where I got my "fashion sense" well, just take a look at this pic, circa 1978....I got it from my mama!

                       

My mama with her niece and a friend.

2.After all these years...it is just me and my mom. She brought me up all by herself and raised me well, she did. Yes I was her "only child", unica hija, one can assume that I was spoiled, who gets everything I wanted in a whim..but no, my mother provided me with whatever that she can afford to give me but not to the extent of giving me everything  I want. I'd like to think I was brought up well grounded...well you can ask her about it ha ha.

                   

3.She is a cool mom!

When I wanted to do the zipline and my cousins are too chicken to try it , not the fact that she is already a senior citizen can hinder her to try this kind of adventure. She even made a joke to the one who is assisting us with our harness..."walang bang discount ang senior citizen dito?". Yep, thats my mom! 

4.She is my "ultimate travel buddy" 

Growing up one of my "wish" is to take my mother to Bohol. While I was studying she can't afford to have a vacation to her hometown because all the money that she earned have to be spent with my tuition fee and all that. So by the time that I'm done schooling and earning on my own...I made it sure that I make "bawi" to  my mother by taking her to places with me. 

5.She is adventurous as well.  

She is always game for every "adventure" I would like to take. While we were at Cebu and told her 

"Ma, do you see the tallest building in the area (I was refferring to the Crown Regency Hotel in downtown Cebu) I like to try the skywalk adventure, can you join me" and she was like "Ok, game!"

And so together we "survived" the Skywalk at Cebu's tallest building. 

On top of Crown Regency Tower in Cebu City

6.She is always "young at heart" 

My mother up to this is still working, she gets bored when she stays at home. Still "kikay"...will never leave the house without her eyebrow "fix" and will always delight when you give her a new dress or a new blouse. That is because at 65 my mother will always be young-at-heart. And this picture will show that she is still game to pose in a one piece swimsuit. :-)

7.She is a fun mom!

She love the "wacky" shot and she has her own way of being wacky in a shot! 

8.She has been with me at my highest and more so at my  lowest. 

Of all the "heartbreak" that I had gone through she is the one who saw me at my weakest. When I look back, my mother did saw me at my lowest and she did cried with me too and those moments will always strengthen the bond between a mother and a daugther. A mother's love is unconditional, sometimes they don't have to say anything at all...just a hug is more than enough.

9. She is the only one person who wont ever let me down. 

And my mother can do it with grace and poise.

10. She is hardworking, the most "maparaan" person I would ever know.

My mother brought me up all by herself. With her hard work and sheer determination to give me a good life even with the absence of my father. She was my "idol". I told her "mama, if you can raised me all by yourself then I can  raise a child on my own too" but she said "no, that is not what I wanted for you". Because she wanted me to have a "complete" family of my own, well I don't know about that yet. But for sure if one day I will be a mother, I wanted to be like my mother. As loving, as caring and just like every mother...the most selfless person who will love me unconditionally. 

Travel is fun, especially if you got to share it to the one closest to you like your friends, your parents or your loved ones. While I'm still waiting for the "one" to share my life and my love for travel, I have my mother with me and I make the most  out of it. 

You too can make the most of your time to spend it with your mom or your dad. It does not need to be "expensive". Take them for lunch or dinner, or treat them to their favorite movie, take them to places you know they like....the memories you will build out of it, you can cherish it "f-o-r-e-v-er". 

"Honor your father and your mother, as the Lord your God has commanded you, so that you may live long and that it may go well with you in the land the Lord your God is giving you"

-Deuteronomy 5: 16-