Earthquake

When younger, I used to chant “ako Andres Bonifacio, ‘atapang atao, indi atakot, indi atakbo!” just for fun, or maybe, a statement that challenges may come, yet, like Invictus, “my head is bloody, but unbowed!” Having cared for loved ones and cancer patients till their deaths, I thought I am familiar and less afraid with the ways of death. Not quite so.

“Lindol!” Coming down from the 2nd floor of my farm house, all I could mutter was “JESUS, I TRUST IN YOU!”, forgetting the whole Divine Mercy 3 O’clock prayer. Dying, not this way LORD, not under the debris were my thoughts. Today, October 31, in a stronger quake in the 4th floor, we were more prepared with my “JESUS MERCY, MARY HELP!”, and my son’s “ST. FRANCIS BORGIA (Patron Saint of earthquakes), pray for us!” And the formula drop, cover, hold! Never mind that my 6 footer son’s butt was prominently jutting out from under a small dining table. He was not unbowed, but unbent. Conclusion, he needs to diet to lessen tummy.

After assessing our surroundings for cracks, (and discovered that the wide corner posts I thought were solid cement were wrapped in plywood for size impressions, so condo buyers, beware!), I advised the two ladies in the ground floor to do the same. I admired their “coolness” about the situation, yet was disturbed by their nonchalance while feeding a baby.

Different scenario. Panic-faced, a man was pushing an old woman on a wheel chair as if in a race, a half-naked father shouting to his family of 5 to ride his motorcycle, a mother holding her young infant by her armpit, children running in circles, some walking like zombies. They were all scrambling to go to upper Mulig for safety.

I prayed that everyone was praying because it did not appear so.

Blessed Catholics that we are, because we believe, we have recourse to Mother Mary, Guardian Angels, Archangels, Saints, Holy Souls who are on call to be by our side.

In our emergency bag/kit, make sure we have our Rosaries, Holy Water/Oil, aside from all the others. In times of stress or danger, I kiss or touch my scapular and peace sets in. Sacramentals calm our nerves.

In a Marian apparition, Mother Mary taught this powerful protection prayer to the Seer. Let us pray, LORD JESUS CHRIST, SON OF THE FATHER, SEND NOW YOUR SPIRIT OVER THE EARTH, LET YOUR HOLY SPIRIT LIVE IN THE HEARTS OF ALL NATIONS, SO THAT THEY MAY BE PRESERVED FROM DEGENERATION, DISASTER AND WAR. MAY THE LADY OF ALL NATIONS, WHO ONCE WAS MARY, BE OUR ADVOCATE, AMEN.

IN YOUR FULL GLORY FATHER, SON, AND HOLY SPIRIT, please keep all of us safe! (Bella A. Sarenas)