Around 50 residents of Brgy. Mahawak in Medellin town were forced to sleep inside plastic bags following the magnitude 6.9 earthquake that struck Cebu on Tuesday night. Photo courtesy: JM Bolotano
CEBU — About 50 residents of Sitio Pandan, Barangay Mahawak in Medellin, Cebu rushed out of their homes when a magnitude 6.9 earthquake struck on Tuesday night.
Located right by the sea, many feared a possible tsunami and fled to higher ground — a mountain about a kilometer away.
Arguel Escalicas, one of the survivors, recalled their difficult escape.
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“Ang daanan namin sobrang sikip. Kapag nakapaa ka lang, mga bato doon, masakit. Mga bato, matutulis,” Escalicas told ABS-CBN News in an interview on Friday.
(The way out was so narrow. If you run barefoot, the sharp rocks hurt your feet)
She said they ran from their home near the sea because of a storm surge.
“Naghanap kami ng lugar na open space na walang malalaking kahoy at walang matutumba sa amin. Nung pumunta kami doon, hindi kami handa at sarili lang namin.”
(We looked for an open space where there were no tall trees or anything that could fall on us. When went there, we had nothing, only ourselves)
Residents were planning to spend the night in safety, but heavy rain suddenly poured
Arguel’s brother-in-law returned to their home to retrieve plastic bags, which residents used to cover themselves from the downpour.
Among them was Jessa Golosino, who clung tightly to her 10-month-old baby while wrapping herself in plastic.
“Sabi ko kahit sila na ang maligtas, kahit huwag na ako. (Bakit pumasok sa isip niyo iyan?) Nerbyos. Di ko alam ang gagawin,” she recalled.
(I told myself as long as they are safe, never mind me. Maybe I thought of that out of fear. I didn't know what to do)
For Lemar Golosino, protecting his wife and six young children was his only priority.
“Mahirap. Napakahirap. Kailangan namin ng plastic eh kasi wala kaming tent. Plastic lang. Sa isang plastic, dalawa ang kasyang bata. Ako hindi na ako nagplastic, mga bata lang para masafety sila sa ulan. May pitong buwan pa akong baby,” he noted.
(It's difficult. We needed plastic coverings because we don't have a tent. Two children can fit inside one plastic sheet. I didn't use the plastic, just the kids so they would be protected from the rain. I have a seven-month-old baby)
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Although residents knew the danger of wrapping themselves in plastic, Arguel said they had no choice—with no tents or proper shelter available that night.
“Kaming mga nabigyan ng plastic na malalaki, ang hirap. Walang oxygen. So, ang tip namin, inilabas namin ang paa namin para may makapasok na hangin sa loob,” Arguel explained.
(Those of us who received plastic sheets, it was very hard, we couldn't breathe. So, our tip was for them to stick their feet out so air could come in)
“Kung sa tingin nila na masama na gumamit kami ng plastic, hindi naman araw-araw na ginagamit kung may ulan. Trahedya ito eh. Initiative lang namin na gamitin ang plastic para lang hindi kami mabasa kasi may maliliit na bata. At matanda rin,” she further said.
(If people say it's wrong to use plastic, it's not every day that we use it. This is a tragedy. We only used the plastic to protect the children and the elderly)
For now, residents remain outside their damaged homes.
A firetruck from Cebu City arrived earlier to distribute water.
Power has been restored in Medellin, though outages are still being experienced.
Meanwhile, some businesses in town have started to reopen, slowly signaling a return to normalcy, even as aftershocks continue.