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