EARTHQUAKE

It was an ordinary day, just like any other. I had my usual morning duty, which went by uneventfully. After finishing my shift, I went for a jog—something I regularly do to clear my mind and stay active. After that, I headed home, had a light dinner, and decided to rest early since I was feeling a bit tired. I remember checking the time before I dozed off—it was around 9:30 PM. Everything seemed peaceful until I was suddenly jolted awake. At exactly 10:18 PM, the ground began to shake violently. At first, I was disoriented, unsure if I was dreaming or if something was actually happening. But within seconds, the power went out. The lights shut off abruptly, and complete darkness surrounded me. Then the tremors intensified—stronger than anything I had ever experienced in my life. My heart started racing as fear quickly set in. Without wasting any time, I jumped out of bed and ran outside. My first thought was my family. My sister and her daughter lived just a short distance away in a nearby rented apartment. I didn’t even stop to put on proper footwear—I just had to make sure they were safe. As I rushed through the dark, I could feel the earth still trembling slightly under my feet. I could hear dogs barking and people shouting from their homes. It was chaos. Some neighbors were already outside, confused and panicked, trying to contact their loved ones. When I got to my sister’s place, I found them huddled together outside the building. Thank God—they were safe and unhurt. My sister and her daughter looked shaken but they were physically fine. We stood together for a few minutes, trying to make sense of what had just happened. Once I knew they were okay, I immediately checked my phone to contact the rest of our family. The signal was unstable, but after several tries, I was able to get in touch with them. Thankfully, all of them were safe. No one was injured, and their homes were still intact. At that point, I breathed a sigh of relief. It could have been much worse. About 20 minutes later, messages and photos started pouring in from friends and people on social media. That’s when the full scale of the earthquake’s impact started to become clear. My friends sent me images of buildings that had been severely damaged—cracked walls, fallen debris, broken glass, and even roads with large fissures. It was shocking. Areas I recognized looked almost unrecognizable. What really struck me was how quickly everything had changed in just a matter of seconds. That’s the terrifying thing about earthquakes—they come without warning and can change lives in an instant. In the aftermath, despite the fear and uncertainty, I felt incredibly grateful. Grateful that my family and loved ones were safe, that our homes were still standing, and that we had each other to lean on during such a frightening event. It made me realize how fragile life can be and how important it is to cherish the people around you. We still don’t know the full extent of the damage across Bogo City and nearby areas. Authorities have started assessing the situation and offering aid to those affected. For now, all we can do is PRAY, stay alert, stay safe, and support each other through these difficult times. This earthquake was a reminder that in moments of disaster, human connection and compassion are what truly matter.