July 16, 1990, Pasig Catholic College, Pasig City, Philippines at approximately 4:00 pm. I was in 4th year high school back then, all of the seniors have left home already and as a cadet officer assigned as a COD - (cadet officer of the day) and waiting until 5pm to lower the school flag and looking forward to go home. When I was going down the stairs then I've heard a ringing and felt a dizzy sensation then I realize it was an earthquake. I ran downstairs in a heartbeat because I was almost at ground floor and next to main stairway our CAT-1 (Citizen Army Training - ok like a Junior ROTC) office. I yelled to my fellow officers at the office to get out. We meet up at the quadrangle and as a senior officer among our group made a quick head count of my fellow officers and cadet NCO's to make sure we are account for. As I look back I could not forget the sight that our building that we everyday dwell, shook and swayed as you never seen before, and the same time the rest of the high school students quickly evacuated the building in proper order. It took about more than 30 seconds for the 500 or more students to completely evacuated the building. As I recall a month before that we had an earthquake drill that our HS principal at time the late Mr. Antonio B. Cruz criticized our drill because we done it slowly. But this time for real, the drill paid off in which during that moment all students are safe and done it quickly and orderly manner. But more fortunately, the building is not filled in a maximum capacity because the HS seniors (221 students) have already left home and except for the few of us who left behind on duty at our office and some few senior students. One thing I was happy to see, the building stood and still stands today.

After that earthquake, everyone went home to catch the evening news and we found out it was 7.7 magnitude at the Richter scale. The epicenter was north of Manila in Nueva Ecija province. Baguio City or known as the summer capital of the country was hard hit. But one news that I'd stayed glued at the TV at that time was the rescue and recovery of 250 students and teachers were trapped in a six story building collapse at Christian College of the Philippines in Cabanatuan City, Nueva Ecija province. Ironically, that's the only building in Cabanatuan City that have collapsed and pancake those poor people. Unfortunately, at that time, there is no formal Incident Command system, nor any local rescue teams at that time. Only Philippine Army units and some U.S. forces at Clark Air force base and Subic Naval base provided rescue teams and equipment for rescuing the trapped victims. For me, watching the news unfold of the rescue of the students of CCP was frustrating and unorganized effort in our local counterparts. I wish I could go there and help but then again wondered when will be our own will be prepared on such magnitude of this kind of disaster.

Just recently last July 5, 2009 at SM Mall of Asia. Fire, Rescue and EMS units, career and volunteer units coming from all over Metro Manila (National Capital Region) is one of the largest gathering of resources as ever seen. The event in accordance of the Presidential Executive Order 137 of 1999 making the month of July (the remembrance of July 16 Earthquake) - A Disaster Consciousness Month. Once again, our brigade a member of Civil Defense Action Group - National Disaster Coordinating Council, participated in a disaster awareness parade from Quirino grandstand, Manila going to SM Mall of Asia in Pasay City. As 11 year veteran firefighter / rescuer, as I look back. We have come a long way. Even our local Pasig Rescue team participated in the drill. We have seen that some units like the Bureau of Fire Protection - Special Rescue units is capable in dealing with HAZMAT incidents and also Weapons of Mass Destructions (WMD's) devices against terrorism. Also, I've met some old friends which are pioneers of the one of the first rescue unit in the country - the Makati Youth Emergency Rescue Team (MAYERT) now Makati Rescue established way back in 1996 during my army reservist days. Nowadays, Makati City, Marikina City and Davao City is one of the proven and tested a "911 like" Emergency Medical Service System (EMSS) in the country, and soon to follow our city - Pasig. But still, there are a lot of things to work out. First to break the 10 year pending of the National Registry of Emergency Medical Service Law in our congress, in which it will standardize and regulate Emergency Medical Technicians - Basic to EMT - Paramedic personnel when dealing from simple medical emergencies to more complex Incident Command System especially in major natural and man-made disasters. More training and more joint drill exercises between units or career and volunteer counterparts. I hope, the progress that I've seen last weekend will change our attitude towards disaster in a more pro-active stance.

As I post this blog in commemorations for this month of July. We must never forget for those who lost who cannot speak for themselves, and those who have survived that we and us in the Philippine fire, rescue services to educate everyone and be prepared.....

LET US NOT FORGET

July 16 Earthquake - July 16, 1990
Mount Pinatubo Eruption - 1991
Ormoc, Leyte - Nov. 5, 1991
Pagoda Festival Tragedy, Bocaue River, Bulacan - Jul. 1993
Ozone Disco Fire - March 16, 1996
Bahay Kalinga Orphanage, Manila Fire - December 3, 1998
Cherry Hill Subdivion Landslide - 1999
Payatas Dumpside Landslide - July 12, 2000
Rizal Day Bombing - Dec. 30, 2000
Manor Hotel Fire - Aug. 17, 2001
Quezon Province Landslide - Dec. 23, 2003
Super Ferry 14 bombing - Feb. 27, 2004
Ultra Stampede, Feb. 4, 2006
St. Bernard Landslide, Leyte, Feb. 17, 2006
MV Princess of the Stars, Jun. 21, 2008




Michael F.Vito
Fire Officer-in-Charge

update: Just recently a bomb gone off at Iligan City, Mindanao Island, killing two persons. This bombing is one of the series of bombing occured in southern Philippines. Although, in our area is more safer than them. Still, terrorism knows no boundaries so Armed Forces and Police units went on high alert yesterday.

http://pasigalliancefire.multiply.com/photos/album/35/CDAG_-_Disaster_Consciousness_Month