October 4th, 2025 - Trapped in the Homes They Thought Would Keep Them Safe

Jane Lita Baquilta and her family thought their concrete home in Cebu, Philippines, would protect them from the frequent natural disasters that ravage the region. The SM Cares Village, where they moved after Super Typhoon Haiyan destroyed their original home in 2013, was built to be a safe haven. But on Tuesday night, a 6.9-magnitude earthquake reduced that hope to rubble, killing at least 72 people, including Jane and two of her children, and injuring more than 200. Bridges, hospitals, and power lines were damaged, while some victims were trapped in landslides or crushed beneath their own homes.

Jeffrey Crisostomo, Jane’s husband, recalled the hope they felt when they moved into the concrete house years ago. “She was excited to move to that house because it was made of concrete, unlike our shanties here in the fields,” he said. That hope turned to horror when the ground shook violently, collapsing walls, ceilings, and glass. In the chaos, he lost hold of two of his children and was pinned by debris, only managing to throw his son John Jeffrey toward the door before blacking out.

The 12-year-old survived, but the trauma was immense. Bloodied and terrified, he ran from the collapsing house, witnessing neighbors scrambling for safety. His father, now in the hospital with a broken arm and missing thumb, may never return to work. The family’s tragedy is emblematic of the Philippines’ vulnerability: located on the Pacific Ring of Fire and in the typhoon belt, the nation faces earthquakes, storms, and floods yearly. Despite billions set aside for disaster relief, corruption often diverts funds from those who need them most.

Jane’s mother, Rosalina Sonet Baquilta, 71, recounted finding her daughter conscious but asking about her children. The heartbreak of losing her grandchildren is almost unbearable. John Jeffrey’s next glimpse of his mother and sisters was in their coffins, brought back to the same muddy field where their old home had once stood. Across Cebu, families now live under tarps and blankets, clinging to cardboard signs begging for food and water, unable to return to homes that no longer exist.

The destruction was not limited to Sitio Tabla. In Medellin, a boulder crushed the Pilones family home, killing three and leaving a 5-month-old baby, Briana Grace, as the sole survivor. Her father and grandfather recovered the bodies themselves. Even evacuation centers were not safe; a basketball-court-turned-shelter in San Remigio collapsed during a friendly game, killing five disaster-response officers.

Jeffrey Crisostomo, who once worked installing culverts to prevent flooding, now faces an uncertain future. The SM Cares Village, which had been a symbol of hope after Haiyan, will soon be flattened, and its residents displaced for a second time. The earthquake exposed not only the natural vulnerabilities of the Philippines but also the consequences of repeated government mismanagement and failure to fully protect citizens.

Families across Cebu continue to survive with donated food and water, but the path to rebuilding is long and fraught. The devastation underscores the need for stronger infrastructure, stricter oversight on relief funds, and more support for hardworking families like the Baquilitas who, despite previous calamities, strive to rebuild their lives in one of the world’s most disaster-prone regions.

Word of the Day (Merriam-Webster) - Repertoire (REP-er-twahr) - Repertoire typically refers to a list or supply of plays, songs, dances, etc. that a company or person is prepared to perform,. Repertoire may also refer to a supply of skills or devices, or more broadly to an amount or supply.

Example: The band's repertoire includes both classic and modern jazz.

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