By Sonny Coloma
ENDEAVOR
There are moments in a nation’s history that become personal because they intersect with our own lives. For me, three major earthquakes stand out, not only for the devastation they caused, but for what they revealed about our vulnerabilities and resilience as a nation and people.
The first occurred on August 2, 1968. I was a fourth-year high school student when a powerful earthquake struck Luzon shortly before midnight. Its most tragic symbol was the collapse of the six-story Ruby Tower in Binondo, Manila, where hundreds were trapped beneath concrete and steel. In the days that followed, news reports carried heartbreaking stories of lives lost and families forever changed.
As a teenager, it was my first realization that disasters spare no one. Images of rescuers digging through rubble, often with bare hands, left a lasting impression. For many Filipinos of my generation, Ruby Tower became a reminder of the need for safer buildings and stricter construction standards.
Twenty-two years later, on July 16, 1990, a 7.8-magnitude earthquake struck Central and Northern Luzon. It devastated Baguio, Dagupan, Cabanatuan, and other communities. Thousands died, and roads, bridges, schools, hospitals, and businesses suffered extensive damage.
At the time, I was Undersecretary of the Department of Transportation and Communications and President of the Rotary Club of University District Manila. The quake crippled transportation and communication systems, complicating rescue and relief efforts. That was the first time the use of mobile and satellite phones emerged as an offshoot of disabled communication lines.
Government agencies worked around the clock to restore essential services and reconnect isolated areas.
Aftershocks also wrought havoc on the Hyatt Terraces and other buildings in Baguio City. Uncannily, last Monday over a friend’s birthday lunch, I met Mrs. Sonia Roco, wife of the late Senator Raul Roco, who was among those who was rescued from the rubble of one of the severely damaged buildings. Former Baguio City Rep. Mark Go, who was then serving as Human Resource Director of Texas Instruments, led a civilian volunteer rescue brigade.
What I remember most is the extraordinary generosity. Rotary clubs nationwide mobilized relief operations. Private companies donated supplies and equipment. Churches, schools, civic groups, and ordinary citizens contributed what they could.
The spirit of bayanihan was unmistakable. In the face of tragedy, Filipinos showed that compassion and collective action help communities recover. The 1990 earthquake taught us that resilience depends not only on infrastructure but also on strong social bonds.
The third earthquake that left a lasting impression occurred on October 15, 2013, when a magnitude 7.2 quake struck Bohol and nearby provinces. Historic churches that had stood for centuries crumbled. Homes, roads, bridges, and public facilities were heavily damaged, and many communities were traumatized by the quake and its aftershocks.
By then, I was serving as Secretary of the Presidential Communications Operations Office under President Benigno S. Aquino III. Although I was not in the disaster zone, our office coordinated government public information efforts during the crisis.
One image remains vivid. PNoy chose to stay overnight in a tent near an affected area. The decision was driven by damaged infrastructure and limited accommodations, but it also conveyed solidarity with those who had lost their homes and livelihoods. One of the vivid images that I recall from that episode is that of the President staying awake until the wee hours while keeping tabs on rescue and relief progress reports.
The Bohol earthquake underscored the importance of timely, accurate information during emergencies. In an age of social media and instant communication, managing information can be as critical as managing relief operations. People need reliable information to make sound decisions and avoid panic.
These three earthquakes, spanning nearly half a century, remind us that the Philippines sits on the Pacific Ring of Fire. Earthquakes are not rare anomalies but recurring realities that demand preparation. While progress has been made in disaster risk reduction and management, much remains to be done.
Foremost among the needed reforms is the enactment of a comprehensive Philippine Building Act. Current laws governing building design, construction, inspection, and occupancy are scattered across various statutes, codes, and administrative issuances. A modern Building Act could consolidate standards, align them with international best practices, and establish clearer accountability.
Such legislation should require regular structural audits of older buildings, especially schools, hospitals, government facilities, and high-rise residences. It should strengthen the accreditation and accountability of engineers, architects, contractors, and inspectors while imposing meaningful penalties for violations that endanger public safety.
Equally important is modernizing local government disaster preparedness. Hazard mapping, land-use planning, emergency response systems, evacuation facilities, and public education programs must be continually improved. Resilience should be a permanent part of local governance, not merely a reaction to disasters.
Preparedness must also become part of everyday culture. Regular earthquake drills, family emergency plans, disaster education in schools, and community-based preparedness programs can save lives when the next major quake strikes.
The earth beneath our feet will continue to move. We cannot prevent earthquakes, but we can reduce their human and economic toll through foresight, discipline, sound public policy, and collective responsibility.
Comments may be sent to sonnycoloma@gmail.com .
