Awakened by the shaking beds a little past midnight of Saturday, 02 December 2023 and unto the wee hours of Sunday, 03 December 2023, people rose from deep slumber. The tremors caused cabinets and furniture at home moving as people screamed in fear for dear life as they realized that there was an earthquake so strong to be felt even in places too far from the epicenter. Wakeup calls spread like wildfire on social media platforms, as people sent messages to their kin and friends, seeking information if all they knew are safe from all nooks of the globe.
Later, government agencies like Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (philvocs) released the official information about the strength and location of the epicenter. Then updates on the damage caused and the occurrence of aftershocks were issued to inform the public and waylay fears about their safety. The aftershocks were successive as the earth movement continued. The anxiety remained as buildings cracks were seen in the aftermath.
The tremors happened during the liturgical new year of the Roman Catholic Church as the first Sunday of Advent is the beginning of the new liturgical season. The readings of the Word of God in all Holy Masses in all Catholic Churches around the globe end during the celebration of the solemnity of Christ the King. The aftershocks continued for days and nights, causing panic to many who were in slumber and unready of what to do especially when the shaking occurs at night.
But the seismic shocks were momentarily glossed- over by the bombing of a Roman Catholic Cathedral in Marawi City. Churchgoers of the Holy Mass being celebrated on that first Sunday of advent inside the Mindanao State University campus. Such senseless bombing that followed the several typhoons, floods and earthquake turned to be a Dreadful Disaster Sequel.
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