Onstage and in the Moment: When the Earth Shook in Davao
Last Oct. 10, at exactly 7:12 p.m., I was onstage hosting the 25th anniversary of Borromeo Insurance Agency at Casa Mayor in Davao City when the entire stage began to tremble. At first, I thought my hosting energy had finally unleashed a new kind of energy into the room—the kind that makes the audience lean in and laugh. But the trembling was real. Lights above swayed, the floor pitched, and for a split second I worried the chandeliers might hijack the show for a TikTok moment of their own.
My heart pounded like a drumline. Yet the performer in me stayed on cue. I spoke with a calm voice, guiding the crowd through the moment. Safety demanded more than drama; it demanded discipline. We didn’t panic. We adjusted, communicated clearly, and evacuated in an orderly fashion as a team, ensuring everyone kept their balance and their breath.
Living Through a Real Earthquake: The Aftermath and the Lesson
That night, PHIVOLCS confirmed a magnitude 6.8 aftershock, following the stronger main quake offshore Davao Oriental. To feel that power beneath your feet while holding a microphone and smiling through it was humbling. It underscored a hard truth: nature doesn’t need a sound system to command attention. The earth can move with or without our plans, and it does so with a force that can redefine what we consider “prepared.”
As I flew back home to Manila, rumors swirled that the “Big One” could strike Metro Manila anytime soon. Whether that prediction holds or not, the core message remains: the earth will move again. Maybe not today, maybe not this week, but it will happen. The question is not if but how ready we are when it does.
Practical Earthquake Readiness: 8 Must-Knows
From the experience on that Davao stage, here are practical actions anyone can take when the ground shifts beneath your feet:
- Drop, cover, and hold on. Do not run as the shaking starts. Get down low, protect your head, and hold on to sturdy furniture until the tremor ends.
- Stay put until it stops. Moving during the shaking can be dangerous. Stand by for the all-clear before exiting a room or building.
- Evacuate smartly. After shaking ceases, move to open space away from walls, glass, and electric lines.
- Pack a Go Bag. Water, a flashlight, a radio, medicines, a power bank, a whistle, and copies of IDs are essential.
- Know your zone. Learn building exits and community safe zones to shorten response times after a quake.
- Communicate wisely. Designate a relative outside your immediate area to check in; texts often go through when calls fail.
- Expect aftershocks. Remain vigilant and do not re-enter damaged structures until authorities clear them.
- Train together. Encourage regular quake drills at work, school, and in the home to reduce panic when the real event hits.
Grace Under Pressure: A Universal Skill
That night in Davao reminded me that grace under pressure isn’t reserved for stage stars alone. It’s a survival ethic. We may not choose when the next quake strikes, but we can choose how prepared and calm we’ll be when it does. If Davao was my wake-up call, perhaps this column can serve as yours. The ground may shake, but our faith, composure, and readiness don’t have to.
Stay calm, stay prayerful, and stay ready. The world will keep moving—and so should we.
