Exactly 19 years now when a horrible killer earthquake hit Baguio and other parts of Luzon with a magnitude of 7.7 on the richter scale that lasted 45 seconds. Like a snapped on my finger changed everything. Still fresh from this day as i was just 2nd year college at SLU in Baguio when i encountered this devastating natural calamity.

Blessing in disguised

It was first semester that year when our school always have a rally due to tuition fee increase following the barricades of all gates inside our school campus exactly on the day of July 16, 2000. The administration decided to suspend the classes on all levels was announced immediately in the morning. In short, we had no classess until the negotiations was over..between the admin and the SSC. In the afternoon that day,  my boardmates and I decided to go home in the province going down to Kennon road and shortly before we had our stopover at Sison the bus began shaking. While still on the bus i saw the people running in the field and before we stop beside the store collapses but nobody's hurt.

I still don't know the damages done that time until we heard reports said that damaged worst in the cities North of Manila, with major damage in Cabanatuan City and Baguio. All high building collapsed and no precise reports on loss of life.

 

How did I get home?

Our bus re-routed to Dagupan city as bridges were already collapsed but along the way the bus driver discovered also that bridges were already damaged on the way to Dagupan and also with major damages in that city. So we get back again...we decided to cut our trip until we reached and crossed bridges to bridges which was not already passable. When we were in Carmen we just walked and ran to that 2 or 3 kms bridge that was collapased and impassable. Then we ride on a jitney until we get to San Isidro bridge and while we crossed that briged i was thinking that i will be home at last....Suddenly it was  almost 12 pm in the evening while we leave Baguio at 2 pm in the afternoon.  

Just as until this day when everything has turn things right again..Baguio recovered in less than 3 years. Now, with so much tourists in the area and increasing. SLU has no major damages and casualties that day and unlike BCF and UB or any other schools around Baguio but sadly there were students and professors who died in Camp 3 Kennon Road while on their way to some educational trip somewhere, Kennon road became passable again and all major roads like Marcos Highway which is now built from a world class national road  and Naguilian road from where most of La Union and Ilocos region are now enjoying. Life has become more meaningful to the citizens of Baguio. 

 

If's and when..
 
I was thinking that if we had our classes that day on the sixth floor of Perfecto Building..if and when I was on my way home while on a bus at Camp 3 Kennon Road were most of the vehicles were damaged and trapped due to landslides and many passengers were died..if i were in Baguio a day after the earthquake was isolated and for many months before the road was reconstructed...if i was sleeping outside the house on a tent just built on the street side for long days and sometimes raining and coldest nights..with foods and water shortages and no electricity..fouled smell of air caused by those hundreds of people who died in an instant. When crossing on those bridges had a multiple aftershocks and collapsed. If by the time that SM was already there..and by that time if I am watching some movies  with one of their cinemas..when all around like there's no tomorrow...haha...miles of hanging questions. My journey never stops there. I have moved on.  I just thought that when my heart stops beating..that's the end..I never felt nervous that day. My instinct and power level was very high. I just keep prayin'.

 

For so many years..I felt I am always in love with Baguio City and when most of the times I have always take time to think about  and pray and still count on the blessings and to reminisced Baguio's finest and memorable experienced I have encountered. I have so many reasons to look up to as I know that nothing in this world is permanent except change ....I just sighed..I'm alive.  

Baguio's earthquake photos courtesy of google.