I was in the computer laboratory that time to print something when the shaking occurred. What caught my attention first was the movement of the monitor then I heard voices of the children outside shouting, “Linog!” And when I turned, I saw everything inside the computer laboratory shaking. I wanted to hide under the tables as what I have learned from the earthquake drill we had, but when I heard crying voices of the children, I ran outside even if the ground was still shaking. I called the children to the direction of the identified safe evacuation area of the school. When the first shaking stopped, I ran to my classroom to check if there were still pupils inside. But a minute after, the ground was shaking again. I didn’t know what to do. I wanted to run home to see my family but seeing the schoolchildren scared, trembling and crying, I just stayed with them.
At home, I felt relieved when I saw that everybody at home was safe. I thanked God that there were no big damages at school and in my house and most importantly, no life was lost. But knowing from the news what happened to nearby barangays, it was heartbreaking.
Jenita M. Pareja
2017 EARTHQUAKE
