Houses and buildings shaking violently. Panic-stricken
residents running for safety outside in streets and open spaces. Fear and
fright mixed with consternation and concern for loved ones. Death and
devastation in the aftermath. Such were the vivid scenarios of the 7.2 earthquake
that struck Central Visayas and other parts of Mindanao at 8:12 morning of October
15. A neighbor commented: “I thought it was the end of the world!” Another
said: “Nawala akong poise!” (I lost
my poise). Good thing, its timing was perfect. It was a holiday, students were
home, morning masses were done and the malls were still to open. Otherwise, the
harm could have been bigger.
When
natural disaster like this happens, we tend to lose our sense of control. We
literally loose our poise because our survival mode takes over us. When the
dust settles down, we are just thankful and blest we are still alive. Others,
in fact, lost theirs. The saddest part of it, many families and communities
especially in the province of Bohol suffered a greater damage in quality of
life. They even lack the most basic such as food, water and medicine.
Cebuanos are quick to
respond to the call of the moment. Though reeling from the same experience, many
private organizations immediately conducted relief operations through donations
in cash or in kind. The most notable is the campaign dubbed “#Bangon Sugbohol
Movement,” a unified effort spearheaded by key business organizations,
concerned individuals, institutions and non-profit groups in Cebu to raise
funds to aid the earthquake victims. Today a benefit concert at 4 pm at the
Ayala Terraces will kick off the campaign with over 20 bands, singers, choral
groups and dance troupes performing.
#Bangon Sugbohol Movement is
a social media-led campaign established by the Island Souvenir Group to unite
the Sugbuanon givers. For organizers, this advocacy is a clear message that
Cebuanos can set aside their respective business interest and unite for one
meaningful cause. Jay Aldeguer, one of the key prime movers of the movement and
CEO of the Island Group affirmed: “Yes, we’ve been set-backed but the rest of
the Philippines and the world will see that Cebu and Bohol will rise from this
fall.” Optimism fills this man and it is contagious!
Who would not feel down by
what had happened? A day after that powerful tremor, I went to see the damage
sustained by the centuries-old Basilica Minore del Sto. Nino. It was a
disheartening sight. Its bell tower at the right collapsed with debris filling
the entrance. The basilica is the first church established in our country. What
is more heartbreaking? Ten of such national treasures in Cebu and Bohol were
damaged just in a day. I asked myself, what is God’s message for us here? It
happened precisely while the Philippine Conference on New Evangelization (PCNE)
was about to start at the University of Sto. Tomas, Manila the day after.
While we are to reach out
and help the victims of the earthquake, God is also telling us collectively we
need to build a stronger church. Experts said that these centuries-old
structures were built by organic materials such as coral stones, egg whites and
lime. Unfortunately, they were not built to withstand a 7.2 magnitude
earthquake. Hence we need to build a stronger Church! Those that conform to new
engineering standards. A church that can withstand the test of time, tide and
tremors.
That’s the physical Church
as a structure! What about the Church as the Mystical Body of Christ? We need
to have a spiritual re-engineering! The Church of Jesus is each individual,
baptized member. Each build and form the Church “like living stones.. built
into a spiritual house” (1 Pt 2:5). We have to build a stronger body of Christ
by empowering, educating and energizing each member through catechesis! Christian
education of the mind and heart is the key. From this comes our love for
Christ, our love for His Church and our eagerness to share our faith with joy. In
his video message that concluded the 1st Philippine Conference on
New Evangelization, Pope Francis gave this challenge: “Bring Jesus now into the
world of politics, business, arts, science, technology and social media.”
On 2021, eight years from
now, we shall celebrate 500 years of Christianity which started in Cebu. As we
look forward to this event, let us re-build. We will pick up the pieces and
move on! From this fall, we will rise stronger. This requires that we become the
leaven of Jesus in the lives of our people in our times.
(This article also appears in the Faith Section of Cebu Daily News, October 20, 2013. )
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