While reading the blogs of those who were there during the July 16th, 1990 earthquake, I noticed that the members of the UPROTC of which I was once a time a part, conducted themselves in an exemplary manner. Because of the numerous and strong aftershocks, the studentry were forced and/or chose to sleep in the open. I read that the cadet officers took turns securing the campus in support of the UP Police.

Perhaps, there were already ominous signs leading towards that fateful afternoon of July 16, 1990.
A bomb threat a week before forced the Freshman Night (of Class 1990), believed to be the rite of passage of all incoming freshmen to the UP Baguio community, to be postponed on this day. A brief but heavy downpour of rain and hale right before noon hammered down the city despite the absence of rain clouds.
At around four in the afternoon, I was doing my “post-table tennis practice ritual.” I was standing …

Ni Cherry Fe Gatan
July 16, 1990 – labingpitong taon nang nakalipas…
Nasa library ako noong panahon na iyon nang bigla na lamang akong nahilo. Akala ko buntis ako…lindol pala!
Hanggang ngayon, hindi ko maubos maisip kung paano ako nakatayo sa aking kinauupuan at nakatakbo palabas ng library.
Pagdating sa labas ng library, doon ako natigilan.
Nakita ko lahat nagtatakbuhan…magulo…taranta. Ako din taranta. At sa sobrang taranta hindi ko nga nagawang umalis sa aking kinatatayuan. Kahit gusto kong tumakbo ayaw sumunod ng aking mga paa. Noon ko lang naranasan ang manigas sa takot.
Natauhan na lamang …

There were 2: one measuring 7.7 and the other 5.3. One shook you up and down for 45 seconds and the other side-by-side in 8 seconds.
Do you remember where you were that day?
I came out of the 2-o’s with 2 blockmates to get something to eat and drink from the lowest canteen (strange, that part is a bit vague to me now). We were heading back when I felt dizzy and told my companions of my state. All of a sudden, a voice came thundering, “Dapa!” (duck down!) and then …