Esnara: Experience scares

IT WAS right after work last Monday when suddenly, the ground started to move slowly. I thought I was just fatigued and feeling shaky, but then I saw the water inside the water container move without anyone applying pressure on it. By then, I know that the earth is shaking, and it must be hard somewhere.

As I open the social media account under my name, the advisory from the Phivolcs was broadcasted. Indeed, there is a 6.1 earthquake in Zambales. That should be strong since it reached La Trinidad at an Intensity 1 or 2 (my guess).

At that instant, I started to compare my experience (which should be the same with you if you were there during the 1990 earthquake). That was on July 16 1990 at 3:26 p.m. (Philippine standard time) with a 7.7 magnitude.

Although I was not a teenager yet at that time, the memory is stuck right inside my head. I think it brought an impact to my life as I am very scared whenever there is an earthquake (We were not de-briefed or provided with psychological support that time).

On that day of July 16, 1990, I ran quickly towards home after my 3 p.m. dismissal because I was excited to play some backyard game with my cousins. There is this game that we always play where the material is our pair of slipper transferred point to point about 5 meters apart, without using our hands.

At first, the shake was a little weaker. Lucky for me, I was sitting right beside a post which I embraced when I felt the ground movement. But suddenly, the ground moved to and fro hardly. I never let go of the post I embraced. Even to the point where my head was banging into it due to the earthquake strength. My head went hitting the post for at least 20 seconds or more. It feels like the end of the world.

Then suddenly it stopped. We all were crying because as young as we were, we do not know what has happened. Much more to know that we were fortunate that we all were scattered on the backyard near the road, because its other end had fallen. It eroded deep into the creek about 100 meters below bringing our game materials and slippers with it. I lived in the mountain side of Ambangeg, (Daklan, Bokod) and when the earthquake has stopped, the mountains which was once all green, are all scarred with erosions. It looked like those scenes in the movies after the war.

Pretty scary when I rethink of it to be happening again, (which I don’t want) And now, I always compare this experience with other earthquake Magnitudes. Every time the Phivolcs announce a magnitude, I always imagine how strong 1990 earthquake was. That I wish it won’t ever happen again in any part of the world.

But we have to be prepared because we are living in the Pacific Ring of Fire. First things first: Do not panic! Pray! Analyze and do not join in racing to the possibility of stampede. Just do the Duck-Cover- Hold technique while the ground is shaking. It is the simplest, and only remedy to save you from any incident caused by an earthquake, when inside a building.