SARANGANI, Philippines – The children of Mary Jane Origenes, 29, were excited to go back to school. On June 8, she accompanied her son and daughter, Grade 3 and Grade 5 students, respectively, on their first day of school at Glan Central Integrated SPED Center in Barangay Poblacion, Glan, Sarangani.
She first dropped off her son at his classroom on the second floor of one of the many buildings on the sprawling campus.
But at 7:37 am that Monday, a powerful magnitude 7.8 earthquake struck off the province’s coast. Sounds of panic and screams of fear, especially from children, filled the air, disrupting opening-day activities.
Origenes and her children fell to the floor. She embraced them and prayed for their safety. When the violent shaking stopped, the 29-year-old mother, bruised on her head and knees, tried to stand.
Her 10-year-old daughter quickly made her way to the stairs. But another round of shaking began.
