10/15: It feels like it was yesterday

People are slowly coming to the white sandy beaches in Panglao over the weekend. Photo: Leo Udtohan

10/15/2020.  

For me, it feels like it was yesterday in some ways, and in other ways it feels like it's been forever. 

Across the province Thursday, Boholanos remembered the 10/15, the 7.2 magnitude earthquake, that brought Bohol to its knees seven years ago.

 

This year, during a pandemic that has infected 400 and killed 8 people in Bohol alone, the somber, solemn rituals continued. 

The 7.2 magnitude earthquake that shook Bohol on Oct. 15, 2013 killed 200 Boholanos, injured 800 others, and displaced more than 300,000 people.

 

Local government units also joined in the  simultaneous ringing of bells and sirens at 8:12 a.m. for 33 seconds– the duration of the 2013 earthquake – to remember the tragedy.

Bohol Governor Arthur Yap led officials in a  Holy Mass celebrated at the new provincial Capitol where attendees were asked to wear masks and stay socially distant. 

After the Mass, the provincial government launched "Laum" (Hope) project which is advocating mental health and well-being. 

Yap said it is the provincial government's multi-sectoral response to use advocacy, information, education, counseling, sports, training, livelihood financing and culture and the arts to reach out, to aid and to capacitate those who need help. 

"What better way to mark this occasion of the seventh Great Bohol Earthquake than by launching a program dedicated to building up the resiliency of the Boholano by extending hand for the weak, the faceless, the voiceless and most especially the youth of Bohol, " Yap said in his message. 

He said the pandemic caused suffering, depression, violence, fear and uncertainty for the youth of Bohol. 

"There is no better way to dedicate this effort to build a more resilient and strong Boholano because in the coming days there will continue to be tragedies that we will be confronting," said Yap. 

A unity ride was also held by Team Sikad Kapitolyo to commemorate Bohol's resilience. 

 For survivors whose family members died, it was a day to remember them. 

In Antequera town, Rodel Barace and his family visited the tombs of his four loved ones who were among the 200 Boholanos who were killed. 

In Sagbayan town, the Somoros and Empinados families visited the Bayong Falls in Barangay Katipunan where they mourn. 

They failed not to visit every year to place flowers, light candles and offer prayers on the spot where their children were buried during the earthquake.

Time is passing. Yet, for Boholanos, there will be no forgetting October 15.

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And here’s an article about types of intelligence shared to us by former beauty queen Maria Vanessa Aumentado, who is, again, clueless who the author is. She got the article from a friend of her friend and posted on Facebook. 

There are three types of INTELLIGENCE:

Intelligence Quotient (IQ)

Emotional Quotient (EQ)

Social Quotient (SQ)

1. Intelligence Quotient (IQ):

this is the measure of your comprehension,

ability to solve math problems,

retain information and recall subject matters.

2. Emotional Quotient (EQ):

this is the measure of your ability to maintain or be at peace with others;

be responsible; be honest; respect boundaries; be humble, genuine and considerate.

3. Social Quotient (SQ):

this is the measure of your ability to build a network of friends and maintain it over a long period of time.

People who have higher EQ and SQ tend to do better in life than those with high IQ but low EQ and SQ.

Most schools capitalize in improving IQ level while EQ and SQ are played down.

A man of high IQ can end up being employed by a man of high EQ and SQ even though the latter has an average IQ.

Your EQ represents your CHARACTER;

your SQ represents your CHARISMA.

EQ and SQ make one COPE and manage

better than the other.

Now there is a 4th one:

A new paradigm

4. The Adversity Quotient (AQ):

the measure of your ability to go through a rough patch in life and come out without losing your mind.

AQ determines who will give up in face of troubles, who will abandon their family or

who will decide quitting life's journey.

To parents, expose children to other areas of LIFE MORE THAN ACADEMICS.

Develop their EQ, SQ and AQ. They should become MULTIFACETED human beings

who are able to do things independently.

Finally, DO NOT PREPARE THE ROAD FOR YOUR CHILDREN rather, PREPARE YOUR CHILDREN FOR THE ROAD.

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