Unshakable Faith

Contributed by Rosanna Javier, Operation Blessing Volunteer

GUIHULNGAN, NEGROS ORIENTAL - Not even a 6.9 earthquake and the sudden fatal death of a father-in-law can shake a pregnant woman’s faith in the constant goodness of her God. 

While the strongest earthquake that hit Guihulngan City in Negros Oriental had left some of its inhabitants in a persisting state of shock and dismay, forty year old Arnolita Ramas’ confidence and resilience shone through. Operation Blessing found her busily talking to her baranggay officials  about the quake, their dead and the living. Seven days ago, the seven month pregnant mother of seven children went through the most harrowing experience of her life.

February 6, 2012.  Lita was hovering around her nipa home while inside her farm-worn husband Glen Mar was sleeping, when she felt the ground she was standing on shake.  Her eyes instantly saw what looked like rushing loose rocks and soil heading their way. Glen was roused suddenly and in lightning speed picked up his youngest son Bryan Jake and with Lita sprinted down hill. 

“Pa! Bilis! Takbo!, Glen shouted back to his father Madison who lived nearby.  Lita fell flat on her face as two banana trees fell on her back. Miracurously that didn’t gravely hurt her but behind her back a different drama was taking place.

“Pa! Naku! Si Lolo nadapa! Natabunan ng lupa!, cried the five year old Bryan.  The poor child’s tears kept gushing.   In a few seconds the earth beneath stopped shaking. By the time the couple looked back father Madison had already been swallowed by the earth where a patch of string beans grew. Above, their house had fully collapsed. 

Since that fateful February 6, the Planas family hasn’t gone back to where their house and farm were. They took shelter in what was formerly a shed for goats. For the past seven days, the question “Where could Lolo Madison’s body be?” hung over their heads.

Twenty two Planas residents perished in the quake. To this day seventeen remain unretrieved, and among them the 72 year old Ramas. Madison was the first to see his Creator in his family of twelve children and a host of grandchildren.  

As Operation Blessing handed rice, noodles and cans of sardines to two hundred twenty residents of Planas, Lita looked at her neighbors with a smile on her face. She said she doesn’t blame or ask God why such a devastating earthquake could mercilessly whip at their homes in the mountain. “Gusto lang siguro ng Diyos na magising na ang mga tao sa Planas”.  Lita, a housewife, loves to go to Bible studies in the Baptist church in the barangay. A trainee Pastor, Lita  takes courage in the Lord for the tough times ahead - “Kung iniligtas nya nga kami noong lindol, ngayon pa kaya?”