I was in the middle of a class and one of my students was about to do a singing activity when the building started to shake a little and it took me a couple of seconds more before I shouted to the class that there was an earthquake.

Everybody panicked but I told them to stay in the room. We were in the fourth floor of a building. I was afraid there might be a stampede along the stairs so I insisted that everybody stay in the room.

When the temblor subsided, I ordered the class to go down as fast as they could. According to initial reports, the quake was magnitude 6 and had its epicenter in Pangasinan.

This temblor brings to memory the July 16, 1990 earthquake which brought Dagupan City down to one of the worst hit cities.

The panic caused by the quake aggravated the fear of many in Luzon after two typhoons ravaged the island and leaving lives and properties terribly affected.

Let us all pray to God that the people will be able to bear the trauma caused by these natural calamities. Pray also that people will learn something from these experiences. God is probably sending a clear message to everyone.