Yesterday, we were on our way to a field trip in UP Los Banos, when I received a text from my sister that a 7.2-magnitude earthquake just hit Cebu. Immediately, social media was flooded with the most heart-breaking photos of churches and buildings that collapsed due to the quake. As of the latest update from Rappler, 107 casualties have been reported, while 2.8 million people were affected. I was worried about our shabby house and my family, but thank God they were all safe. There were several aftershocks that continued to shake my hometown the rest of the day, and kept Cebuanos worried.

The earthquake’s epicenter is actually in Bohol, and it is also Bohol that suffered the most damage. The churches that have been standing for more than 300-500 years are now but rubble. Some can in fact no longer be restored, considering the damage done. A friend compiled some of the photos on Instagram and all over social media on her Facebook account, and here are just some of the photos of the damage caused by this earthquake.

It was a tragic day for Bohol, Cebu, and the rest of the islands in the Visayas that were affected by the quake. Unlike typhoons that have names, strong earthquakes will only be remembered by the year they struck, and the historical structures they destroy. This will go down in history as “The Great Earthquake of 2013” – written on historical accounts of the churches it destroyed.

I have been terrified by the photos, but the terror I feel is nothing compared to those who actually experienced and suffered from the quake. I’m just grateful that my family and friends are all safe, and no significant damage done to their homes. I’m sure the Bisdaks will live through this – we are a tough people. I like how some people quoted that our churches may have been brought down, but our faith only got stronger. I also read that God abandoned his home (churches) to protect our homes. I’m not very religious, but I can’t help but be inspired by these words.

I look forward to Sinulog next year! It will definitely be more meaningful this time, considering the damage done to our favorite church (Basilica Minore del Sto. Nino), and to the Cebuano spirit. We will rise from all of these, and we’ll celebrate that by January! 🙂

God Bless You Visayas!

P.S. Credits to Jan for the photo compilation. If you are the rightful owner, let me know so I can properly credit you.