The Day the Land shook

CEBU, Philippines - It took place last year, on Oct. 15, 2013, at 8:12 a.m., the day right after my 74th birthday.  There were no classes in my school, the Ocaña Learning Center, Inc. (OLCI), that day in order to give the pupils a rest day after the previous day’s Founder’s Day activities.

Between seven and eight that morning, a helicopter was hovering over Barangay Ocaña, Carcar City.  When our house shook at a little past eight, I asked my son Gusen whether the chopper got stuck on our roof since the shaking was so forceful.

My son shouted, “Earthquake, Pa! Earthquake!”  I dropped on my knees at once and prayed the act of contrition.  Then, slowly and carefully, the five of us in the house – my wife, a daughter, our granddaughter, Gusen and I – got out, our hands over our heads.  When we reached the open ground, a “trisikad” driver told us how he saw our house swaying.

We are really very grateful to Almighty God, our loving Father in heaven, that the fearful natural event did not occur when there were classes.  Otherwise, we can just imagine the resulting panic among the parents, guardians, faculty, staff – and the pupils themselves.

As classes resumed the following day, I reminded our pupils about what I lways emphasized in my lectures that whether there is an earthquake or not: “Sa gusto ta o sa dili; Sa madugay o sa madali; Sa abog gyud ta pauli” (Whether we like it or not, sooner or later, we shall return to dust).

October being the month dedicated to the praying of the Holy Rosary, I called the pupils’ attention to the gist of Mama Mary’s message: “Ayaw kabalaka; Mag-rosaryo lang ka; Ug pamalandonga; Ang daku nga gugma; Sa Mahal tang Mama” (Don’t worry, Be happy; Pray daily, the Holy Rosary).

It’s amazing how easily children learn. And it’s easy to notice that the pupils at OLCI are learning not to fear, whether it’s an earthquake or something else. Why? Perhaps they have been taught that “God is my Father Who is everywhere. He is more powerful than all hell together. And the Blessed Virgin Mary is my Mother.”

Several reactions have cropped up on that 7.2 magnitude earthquake. There is even a book entitled “Pagsulay” (Tests/Trials) describing the destructions wrought by the quake.  Personally, I see more as a reminder that: 1) We are solely dependent on our Heavenly Father to hint us when an earthquake is going to occur (which our Phivolcs itself is incapable of forecasting); 2) God is a spirit and does not dwell in destructible structures such as churches and basilicas; 3) God is in our spirit-souls, which cannot be destroyed by any physical catastrophe; 4) The end of the world (Parousia) may not so far off – what with earthquakes here and there; typhoons of increasing intensities (last year’s Yolanda is an example); volcanoes getting restless and threatening to erupt (like Mt. Mayon in Albay);  unrest and wars in different parts of the world; deadly viruses like the Ebola, etc.

Surely we have nothing to lose if we heed the preachings of St. John the Baptist and of our Lord Jesus Christ Himself: “Repent for the Kingdom of God is at hand!” This is the foundation of the Catholic Church Preparing for the Parousia, or CCPP.  It is a movement that is neither money-reliant nor money-making. It is simply reminding one and all to repent and be sorry for their sins for the end (the last moment of our lives or the end of the world – the Parousia) is near.