Yesterday’s earthquake was one of the scariest things I have experienced in my life. When I used to see it happen in other places through the news, I get quite devastated (especially when I see the aftermath). Experiencing it firsthand (I do hope it’ll be my last) brought it full circle somewhat.
For those who haven’t heard/read about it, an earthquake with a 6.9 magnitude shook the Cebu-Negros Region (in the Philippines) yesterday, it was Intensity VII for Negros and Intensity V for Cebu. It also brought about a Level 2 Tsunami Alert which caused a great deal of panic and emotional stress for everyone when there were reports of rising seawater after (Yes, we could still use some work with disaster management and information/update dissemination. Nothing wrong with working on some more improvements with regards to all of these things to ensure safety for everyone). We had a couple of quakes that followed throughout the day (one with a 6.2 magnitude) as well as aftershocks to be expected in the next couple of days.
We all have read about earthquakes (and what they are capable of doing) at one point. When it’s actually happening, you just don’t know how strong it’s going to be, you worry about your family and everyone and you just want it to stop basically. From living out a typical day (no inkling of any dangerous calamities to transpire whatsoever) to things just starting to shake and then your brain suddenly utters a single word – “Earthquake!”. I felt the floor beneath me moving, the walls were shaking – it just scares you. At that very moment, it can be quite hard to keep your wits about you.
I remembered thinking, “Is this really happening?”. A second or two after that, I basically picked up/told Georgia to come to Mommy (she was really scared) and did a quick scan of the space to scout out a safe space to take refuge in (in case it gets stronger and things start falling). I recalled saying to myself that my drafting table (when it caught my eye) isn’t sturdy enough to withstand falling things. I was also torn between quickly running outside to check on my family and make sure they were safe.
Being here the next day, I am just very very grateful. Grateful to be alive and safe. Grateful that God was looking out for all of us and that though we had quite a scary quake, he kept us together.
P.S. Negros really needs our help right now, let us all pray for them =(
P.P.S. It really helps to educate yourself with regards to earthquakes and other calamities so that you can better prepare yourself for it just in case. I highly encourage everyone to read about quake drills and what to do lists, this is a good example. It’s always better to be equipped and ready for anything, this helps you handle things a lot better. For more details about yesterday, here is an article.
Yup, you are done with Christmas decór.
But you can still check out my article with tips if you’d like. 
Yey! Haha. You can also find the rest of my Christmas Photography in the article as well. For part one and two, click here and here consecutively. Fanks!
P.S. I know I’ve been talking about this a couple of times already but please do extend a helping hand for the Victims of Typhoon Sendong. I cannot stress this enough but they need all our help. It makes me teary thinking what they are going through, to have lost all that they worked for (some their whole lives) in just a flash (plus while they were sleeping) and having to stand up and start over again. Sometimes we can’t appreciate the food we have on our tables or the numerous clothes we have in our closets while they have trouble figuring out where to get their next meal and praying hard that it won’t rain because all the clothes they have left are the ones they are wearing. There are different drop centers in the metro and I heard that LBC offers free shipping for the goods (they need clean drinking water, blankets, clothes, etc.) you plan to donate (however, I still have to confirm this). You can also volunteer for Red Cross if you have time and the resources to spare, click here. Thank you!
Quoted from The Watchers’ website, “Entire villages were washed away when tropical storm Sendong (Washi) whipped south Philippines in early hours of Saturday, leaving a trail of flattened homes, broken bridges and upended vehicles in the poverty-stricken country. Sendong killed more than 650 people in eight provinces in the southern Mindanao region, which is unused to typhoons. Rescuers are searching for more than 800 people missing. Flash floods and landslides swept houses into rivers and out to sea.”
Such a devastating calamity to happen especially during this holiday season. Let us all help out in any way that we can. To all the victims of Typhoon Sendong, my prayers go out to you and your families. Please stay strong.
If you wish to help out, you may do so here and more details here. Thank you!
Smile though your heart is aching
Smile even though it’s breaking
When there are clouds in the sky, you’ll get by
If you smile through your fear and sorrow
Smile and maybe tomorrow
You’ll see the sun come shining through for you
Light up your face with gladness
Hide every trace of sadness
Although a tear may be ever so near
That’s the time you must keep on trying
Smile, what’s the use of crying?
You’ll find that life is still worthwhile
If you just smile
That’s the time you must keep on trying
Smile, what’s the use of crying?
You’ll find that life is still worthwhile
If you just smile
Though a favorite (I loved singing it!) while I was growing up, I had forgotten about this song until today. It is a comforting reminder and a very big help to me right now.
To those who are having a hard/difficult time at the moment, this song is dedicated to you and to all of us. Cheers!
P.S. If you haven’t heard of this song before, have a listen here.
P.P.S. Perhaps I should make it a mantra of some sort?
It has been a good few days since Steve Jobs’ death and I wanted to pay my respects to him and his family. He was a brilliant person who utilized that brilliance to make an impact in the world. A man definitely ahead of his time. Cheers to you, Mr. Jobs!
“No one wants to die. Even people who want to go to heaven don’t want to die to get there. And yet death is the destination we all share. No one has ever escaped it. And that is as it should be, because Death is very likely the single best invention of Life. It is Life’s change agent. It clears out the old to make way for the new. Right now the new is you, but someday not too long from now, you will gradually become the old and be cleared away. Sorry to be dramatic, but it is quite true.”
- Steve Jobs
(Credits – All Beautiful Pictures from the Internet)
“Prayer is communication with the Divine. It can be whispered or chanted or written or expressed in the work you do. However it is expressed, it is never in vain.”
- Donna Wilk Cardillo
“Certain thoughts are prayers. There are moments when, whatever be the attitude of the body, the soul is on its knees.”
- Victor Hugo, Les Misérables, 1862
“For every mountain there is a miracle”
– Robert H. Schuller
P.S. I continue on praying that we win our battle, please help us with your own prayers. Thank you.
I am still taking pictures (when time and the climate permits it) and this is my most recent one.
I have been gone for some time and like everything else that has happened lately, it all took me by surprise in a sense. It started out like any ordinary day (towards the end of April). I woke up a bit late because I was finishing up a design proposal the night before. I was working on my drafting table when the maid knocked on my door because I had a phone call. That very phone call made a very big change in my life and my family’s – it brought me to tears. One of the biggest things we dread and wish fervently wouldn’t happen to our parents did to one of mine – my mom was more than just quite sick and her sickness isn’t your typical cough or flu or even appendicitis, it is much more, so much more.
One of the most difficult things to complement these types of news is when you least expect it, when you aren’t even prepared for it, when though you know that you have to be realistic and that things like this will eventually come, you had already conditioned yourself that it wouldn’t be this soon.
I am not the type of person who is typically an open book to everybody, much less someone who broadcasts her life but I am writing this in my design journal because even though I don’t know the exact reason why, I do know that I have shared a great deal of “me” in this journal and that this is my means of updating everyone who would care to read and that this is my way of further asking for your prayers for my mom – for her complete recovery and cure.
This news has been a journey for my whole family, for my sisters and myself, more importantly for my dad and most especially for my mom. It is an ongoing battle that we continue on fighting and fervently ask God every single hour and day to win. We are all abroad/out of the country at the moment because the medical treatment necessary for my mother can only be found else where. I salute the amazing doctors that are helping my mom, they go beyond their line of duty.
When I was first given this predicament, it made it easier for me to choose fighting. I was raised by individuals who are both amazing and the best parents anyone who could ever have, they have raised me to not let obstacles be the hinder to my dreams. To be given this battle, I refuse to give up and cower in the corner and I am grateful to God that I am doing just that – my whole family and I are battling this head on.
I do miss all my usual pursuits, Cebu and even the little things but my mom is more important. I take comfort knowing that God doesn’t give us anything (may it be problems or trials) that we cannot bear. My mother is a very amazing woman – both very strong and compassionate and I am honored to be her daughter. She is one of those rare people who are designed to carry more and she has done so beautifully. This trial is something I would never wish on our family or anyone else’s but in spite of it, I am thankful to what it has given us in a sense – we are given a new perspective on life and were given each other back (in a sense). It makes you realize what is really more important in life and that everything else seems all trivial in comparison.
I do miss this journal very very much and I am not by any means stopping. My passion for interior design and being an interior designer is and will continue burning. For every now and then that I cannot post updates, I am simply stepping out for awhile to take care of my mom. Please do pray for her. Thank you.
I am still here, battle face on.
P.S. Quick update – Her next treatment is scheduled for this Monday, the 27th of June. Please do pray for her and the success of the medical procedure. Thank you very much!
