Demi* (not her real name), 15, is a high school student and a Blaan child from one of the barangays in Glan, Sarangani. When the 7.8 magnitude earthquake struck, Demi and her classmates had just finished the flag raising ceremony and were on their way to their classroom.
The fourth floor of their school was damaged, making it unsafe. As the ground shook, Demi watched her schoolmates panic while their teachers stayed calm, comforting the students and guiding them to safety. The experience made her think of her mother, an elementary school teacher at a school extension located on top of a hill.
Demi became worried about her parents coming down from the hill. There was news about the landslide and her mother’s school having huge cracks in its building. She waited for both her parents, thinking how they will get home. “Thankfully, even though it was almost nighttime, they arrived safely. They travelled through another hill which was very steep and used it as a shortcut,” Demi said.
Through the radios provided for every Blaan family, barangay officials were able to instruct families where they can safely go to arrive at the barangay center. With no mobile signal in the area, radios became an important source of information for every household.
Demi is the eldest of three siblings. Together with her parents and younger siblings, they spent several nights sleeping by the road as advised by the barangay captain to ensure everybody’s safety from the aftershocks. They put together tarpaulins and sheets as temporary shelter.
“We were still scared. We couldn’t sleep properly because we had to stay alert, especially since there were many children staying beside us.”
On their first night, heavy rain poured around 11 p.m., forcing families to seek refuge in houses that were considered safe. Demi said she hopes the government can provide safe housing for families whose homes were buried by the landslide, swept away by the soil, or can no longer be occupied because of ground cracks.
Demi was one of 78 children who received psychosocial support from Save the Children, in partnership with the Ranao Women and Children Resource Center, in their barangay. Through child-friendly activities such as body mapping, Demi and other children shared their experiences and played rock-paper-scissors, helping them rediscover the comfort of play as they recovered from the earthquake.
“I felt happy. It was like my fear and sadness slowly faded away. We were able to let out our fears through the games and happy activities. It helped me understand the memories that kept flashing back in my mind.”
As she continues to process her experience, Demi believes that staying calm can help children and families stay safe during emergencies. “During aftershocks, I hope people won’t shout or panic. Sometimes, we get more startled by the screaming than the aftershock. Even if it’s only a few people, hearing someone suddenly scream can startle you. I hope everyone can remain calm and evacuate safely.”
Despite everything that happened, Demi looks forward to going back to school. She wants to meet her friends again, especially since she travels to another town to attend school. She said she hopes classes resume soon so she can continue her education and one day graduate to help support her family.