Before and After The Quake

During lunch time today Cebu was shaken up by a 6.8 magnitude earthquake on the Richter scale. Today as we marched back to the daily work grind, it seemed like a normal manic Monday. Deadlines, e-mails to reply, patients to examined but as we were about to wolf down our lunches, the earth moved and we all felt it under our feet. Another proof that life is indeed unpredictable and it never runs out of surprises. I am really thankful that it was not that strong but it could have been - and Cebu's old buildings will not stand a chance against the Earth's tectonic plates and my family and friends though all shook up are safe and sound. That is something to be grateful for.

BEFORE...

Last week as I was beaming in celebrating happy friendship week(I fuckin' know, cheesy!). I was happy. The type of happy where in I suddenly and unknowingly catch myself smiling while in transit for no apparent reason but in my head I am thinking about the crazy events that had happened beforehand. I do look silly in front of these strangers but in actuality that's one of my favorite mini moments. Laughing subconsciously while replaying those stupid zany moments never fails to lift me up and gets me through the day! These moments include drunken tirades among friends, trash talking over board game strategies and blast from the past moments.

On Monday, a college friend came back after four years of working in the US and ironically we finally met his fiancee. We never had the chance to meet her when they were still dating before they left to work abroad. And it was night of laughter and catching up just like the old times.

On Wednesday, Alejandro's Filipino Resto, was demolished to give way to more wider roads in a section of the city that's not even a main road. Honestly I don't get government crap sometimes. For the past eighteen months I spent most of my Wednesday nights in Alejandro's geeking out during Trivia Night and getting wasted. Because of this weekly sessions, I met new faces and new friends that share my inner dork force with and my love for alcohol and a good time. Alejandro's is like Central Perk (the coffeeshop from F.R.I.E.N.D.S.)for me, a place where memories where made for the past year and a half. From kicking ass and getting our asses kicked over trivial supremacy, to conversations about the moon and comparing Oscar Movies and the most epic are the post trivia drinking sessions which includes puking on ice buckets, peeing on firewalls, inebriated Q and A's and a whole lot of drama and comedy capped off with a pre-breakfast hot noodles meal by the sidewalk. Ah, funny memories indeed! And the last ever Trivia Night at Alejandro's was legendary - we won first place, I got so drunk and puked my guts out which resulted into the most bitchiest hang over of my life so far, and there was fist pumping, punching and bitch slapping!

During the weekend, my body was telling me to slow down a bit. I got GERD (Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease). My epigastrium was burning and I lost my appetite for 36 hours. I ended up just staying at home, missing a board game session, turned down a karaoke party and spent most of my time in bed with PPIs and water. I used the time to finally finish "The Elephant Vanishes" and catch up on Oscar nominated movies.

Sunday I was finally back in tip top shape. First thing I did was hear mass, window shopped for books (I know I shouldn't right now) and pigged out! I ate at Flame It for nostalgia's sake, had ice cream, yogurt, got myself new plaid Airwalks slip-ons and ended the night with a cappucino and New York Cheesecake Doughnut from Krispy Kreme. Yes next weekend I will be rebounding!

AFTER....

What disappointed me during this event is how the people panicked which totally reflected ill preparedness and lack of knowledge and foresight. All those time spent on earthquake drills are now totally down the drain. People spreading text messages that a tsunami had occurred in Carbon Market and that the downtown area was flooded. Sometimes people do perceived updates wrongly and misinterpret warnings. Let us pray and be calm.

Good thing my mother though anxious but lets her level guardedness win over. When I went home from work I found on my bedroom a gallon of water around 5 liters, plates, ropes, knives and canned goods.

And then those aftershocks are making me dizzy. PHIVOLCS said they will continue for almost a week. Even more.

Inspired by today's tremors and done in good jest, here is my "It's The Quake" play list:
1.) I Feel the Earth Move - Carole King
2.) We Will Rock You - Queen
3.) Get Busy - Sean Paul
4.) All Shook Up - Elvis Presley
5.) Shake Your Love - Debbie Gibson
6.) It's the End of the World (As we know it!) - REM
7.) Shake your Bon Bon - Ricky Martin
8.) Bodyshakin' - 911
9.) Shake, Rattle and Roll - Jesse Stone
10.)You Shook Me All Night Long - AC/DC

Let us all pray and hope for every one's safety. We can get through this!