“𝗜 𝘁𝗵𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵𝘁 𝗜 𝘄𝗮𝘀 𝗴𝗼𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗼 𝗱𝗶𝗲.” Manay, Davao Oriental – Caridad, 76, a resident of Barangay Holy Cross, shakily recounted the horror she experienced during the powerful earthquake. She shared that she was resting on her hammock (duyan) beside her house around 10 a.m. on October 10 when the ground suddenly began to shake violently.  The tremor was so strong that her hammock swung uncontrollably, and parts of her roof and walling collapsed near her. In panic, she started shouting and crying for help, fearing for her life. Fortunately, the purok president, showing remarkable courage, crawled under the tall coconut trees despite the danger to reach her and pull her away from the collapsing structures. “I thought I was going to die,” she said, her voice trembling as she recalled the terrifying moments she will never forget. Caridad is currently taking shelter with her neighbors in a tent set up in a slightly open area. However, it still poses some danger because of the tall coconut trees surrounding them.

I never expected to become a volunteer. When the 7.6 magnitude earthquake struck, I was at the Provincial Health Hospital where I work as a pharmacist. The shaking was so strong – I clung to our door and cried out to God to save me and my children. From where I stood, I saw a nearby laundry shop slowly collapsing. It was terrifying. That experience changed me even my character. I became more aggressive and easily frightened. But through the debriefing, I realized how deeply the trauma affected me, and it helped me start to heal. It was through our church that I learned about the volunteer opportunities for Psychological First Aid (PFA). I joined unexpectedly, thinking I would just help others but in the process, I found healing for myself too. Seeing the survivors cry, share, and find relief made me feel relieved as well.