Shaken

The earthquake that shook us on that Tuesday morning was one that I will never forget.  I remember waking up because our house was shaking like crazy and on instinct I carried my two kids immediately, my husband had to yank our daughter away from me as we headed outside.  

It lasted for a while, and during those seconds that the ground below me was shaking all that I could think of was that I was just thankful that I was home with my husband and kids.  It was all that mattered to me at that moment.  When the shaking stopped, I had to calm myself because I was trembling and I did not want my kids to see me terrified because that would scare them the more.  

The aftershocks that followed were strong so we opted to stay outside instead.  Some of our neighbors left our apartment complex immediately after the quake, but we could not leave because the road leading to the main highway was blocked because two buildings at the corner collapsed.

In the hours that followed, the effect of the quake shocked the entire nation.  It was sad to hear that there were over a hundred casualties and even more injured.  Churches destroyed, houses and buildings badly damaged in just a glimpse of an eye.  

Personally we were affected because the hospital were my husband has worked for more than 5 years was closed down because of the damages caused by the quake.  We don't really know what's going to happen next, we are just keeping our fingers crossed and hoping for the best.

As of writing, another earthquake shook us again at around 4:05 pm.  That is the 4th today with a magnitude of 5.2.  I guess most of us are pretty much shaken by everything that has happened this week.  I feel chills down my spine every time I remember the first quake that shook us last Tuesday, and I can't forget the scary sound coming from beneath the ground just like what you see in the movies. 

Believe it or not, despite this tragedy we still have so much to be thankful for.  I thank God that it happened on a holiday and the kids were not in school and most offices and business establishments were closed.  Imagine if it happened on a regular day, there would have been a lot more injured.  But I pray for all those who lost their loved ones, those who lost their homes and all those who were greatly affected by the quake.  We will get through this...

Here are some photos of the 7.2 magnitude earthquake that shook Bohol and Cebu last Tuesday, October 15, 2013.

The bell tower of the Basilica Minore del Sto. Niño was damaged

Properties damaged from the quake

These two establishments are located at the corner from where we live

As the earth continues to tremble beneath us, may you find comfort in God's words and I pray that wherever you are and whatever it is you are going through, let God hold you and keep you in His loving arms.

A Series of Unfortunate Events

I could not wait for the month of July to be over.  It just wasn't a good month for me.  It reminded me of the movie A Series of Unfortunate Events which was released way back 2004.  The movie was based on the first three books of a series from Lemony Snicket. 

The first book "The Bad Beginning" tells about how the 3 children were orphaned because of a fire that killed their parents.  Coincidentally, my series of unfortunate events started with a fire that broke out a block away from our apartment on a Monday morning.  The good thing was that no one got hurt and the fire was immediately put off.  But the smoke that reached our apartment triggered both my kids allergies and eventually lead to triggering their asthma, which I count as the second in a series of unfortunate events.  

The fire that broke out during that Monday scared me a bit, and the previous week around 2-3 fires broke out in different areas in Cebu.  So I told my helpers in the event that the same incident happens, and we are not in the house just grab a few clothes for themselves, the bag which has our important documents and our emergency kit which has a few clothes for the kids and some essentials and run for safety.

On a Wednesday afternoon, I went to the hospital to get Micah's urinalysis result and decided to go to the grocery.  I heard sirens from a distance and my instinct told me to call home and check on the kids.  My helper told me that they could see the fire from a distance, and the kids were starting to get scared because people from our apartment complex were starting to pack their things.  I rushed home but was caught in traffic because I think they blocked some roads, and I started to get really worried for my kids.  I decided to just run for the remaining two blocks and I saw people frantically carrying their belongings.  When I reached our apartment, I was told that our next door neighbor took the kids and one of my helpers somewhere safe, and I felt really grateful.  I could really see the blaze and the thick smoke, I was so scared and I was just praying for the fire to be controlled.  Then it started raining, a drizzle at first then heavy rainfall, it was as if God poured down water from the heavens.

But the "unfortunate events" didn't stop just yet, both my kids ran a fever for two consecutive days, not to mention the already existing cough and colds.  The following week, when my kids were better I was the one who got really sick, I had pneumonia.  My helpers also caught the flu.  I

Things were not really that good at work.  It started with a member of the team handing me a resignation letter  even before I could settle in my desk, and the next thing I know he went AWOL.  My direct supervisor suddenly resigned, then 2 of my workmates and closest friends also decided to tender their resignation.  How worse could it get?!  I felt emotionally, physically and not to mention financially drained,  It felt like a years worth of bad luck all dumped in a month.

Imagine how relieved I was when August came.  I want to start on a clean slate and forget all the not so good things that happened last month.  It took a while for me to share this, I never imagined myself being a victim of " a series of unfortunate events".  Nevertheless, I still am grateful and blessed because things turned out well in the end.  I know that there are others who have experienced far more worse things than I did.