Opinion: What I did in last Monday’s Earthquake

Everybody has a tale to tell about how he or she reacted when the intensity 6.9 hit Bacolod City Monday about 11:49 a.m.

I was seated on the long table at my office in the Confed Cooperative office in Sixth Street. Suddenly, I felt the tremor at my feet followed by the longer swaying of lamps and the waves that sent our two women secretaries screaming as they rushed out of the building to the rear section.

My caretaker stood up and swayed with the quake. I just sat down and watch the event and to be ready to get down on the floor beneath the table in case the situation got worse.

That, since I had been in several strong tremors in several places, including in Metro Manila and elsewhere in the country, should be the best way to cope with the anger of an earthquake.

I knew it would take some time for me to get out of the building. Besides that, outside there were several poles and passing cars that could have only aggravate the situation. Thus, I just made do with the best way I could.

The table I was seated in front of me was of hardwood and strong enough to withstand the collapse of the upper floor. Cemented yet also overlaid with lumber. So, no real threat to life and limb.

Later, when I went home in my car, I saw the carpenters of a construction just below our place pouring out in droves and congregating in front of their work place. All we did was gaze heavenwards and watch the gyrating construction materials.

Little did they know that they were in danger more because they were milling around electric posts and the possibility that they could get electrocuted should the poles fall on them.

I warned them. But they just did not heed me.

Before that, I told our two secretaries on what to do in case of an earthquake. Do not panic. Stay put on your table. You can’t race against the quake. Besides, you ended up risking the building’s collapse at the rear where there was hardly anything over your heads and bodies in that event.

Well, I went home fast. But when I arrived, my grandson Giancarlo, asked me that Jay had just called us from Canada inquiring about the earthquake and asking how we were. Safe and sound, replied Gianca.

But amazingly, I thought, Jay had taken note of what was happening in Bacolod just almost at the very moment we were still groggily trying to get over our experience.

And Junior (Rolando Junior) also get in touch with Mate, my daughter, telling her to inform me and everybody that he was praying for Bacolodnons and the loved ones.

Later in the afternoon, Mate and Gianca rushed down from their second floor room and anxiously asking what to expect with the aftershock. I just went out of my bedroom and told them that they needed not be anxious.

Besides, I added, if it was intended by God, we would die anyway. That was for sacreligious joke.

Well, truly what can you do when your allotted time is up. Just go. Nothing you can do about it. So, why worry? Thanks to God it was not yet the time for His summons.*