BOWWBLOG #27: The Ground Beneath Our Feet: Preparing Our Hearts for the 'Big One
Beyond the go-bag: Cultivating a culture of readiness that can save our nation
WHAT: The Warnings We Cannot Ignore
In the span of just over a week, two tremors have jolted our islands—a stark reminder that the ground we build our lives upon is not as solid as it seems. For years, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismolog (PHIVOLCS) has warned us of "The Big One," a projected magnitude 7.2+ earthquake from the West Valley Fault, long overdue and lurking in the shadows of our bustling Metro Manila.
The projections are sobering. A major study by JICA, PHIVOLCS, and the MMDA paints a picture we must have the courage to look at: potential for thousands of casualties and widespread destruction. The MMDA has even divided our capital into quadrants to map the response. The question is no longer if, but when. And the most pressing question of all is: How ready are we, truly?
SO WHAT: The Real Fault Lines Are Cultural
We see the flurry on social media after each tremor—posts about go-bags and earthquake drills. But true preparedness is not a trend; it is a culture.
Nations like Japan and parts of California don't just have better infrastructure; they have a culture of obsessive readiness. Drills are a ritual from childhood. Excellence in construction is non-negotiable. There is no room for "pwede na 'yan."
This exposes our own cultural fault lines as Pinoys, which are far more dangerous than the geological one:
1. Collective Amnesia & 'Ningas Kugon': Our initial passion for preparedness flickers out like quick-burning cogon grass. We are alarmed, we talk, and then we forget until the next shock. Disaster preparedness becomes a seasonal conversation, not a sustained national project.
2. The Tolerance for Mediocrity: The enemy is not just corruption, but complacency. When we accept "good enough" or “talagang ganyan” in our buildings, our infrastructure, and our execution of laws, we are building our cities, municipalities and barangays on a foundation of compromise. A disaster magnifies every weakness we ever chose to ignore.
As one analysis rightly points out, without addressing these core flaws, any meaningful disaster preparedness program is doomed to fail. Our anger over corruption must be matched by a collective passion for excellence and resilience. Not just hide behind inaction and learned helplessness disguised as faith: “bahala na ang Diyos.”
NOW WHAT: Building a Culture of Life
The solution is not to live in fear, but to build in love—love for our families, our communities, and our nation's future. We must shift from reactive panic to proactive, cultural change.
Here is how we can begin, right now:
1. Lead with a "Preparedness Heartset" at Home.
· Action: This weekend, don’t just pack a go-bag for your family, pack it with them. Explain why each item matters. Make a family evacuation plan and practice it. Turn fear into a shared mission of care.
· Why: Readiness starts in the heart and the home. When family members including kasambahays especially children learn it as an act of love, it becomes a lifelong value, not a chore.
2. Become a "Readiness Advocate" in Your Community.
· Action: Talk to your Homeowners Association board, or your barangay captain. Ask about the community's earthquake plan. Volunteer to help organize a neighborhood drill. Demand transparency about the structural integrity of public buildings and bridges, check your own house’s current state.
· Why: Change happens at the grassroots. When communities organize, they create a network of survival that official responses cannot match.
3. Champion "Everyday Excellence."
· Action: In your work, your projects, and your daily life, refuse "pwede na 'yan." Model the meticulousness and integrity we need from our engineers and leaders. Call out mediocrity gently but firmly.
· Why: A culture of excellence is our strongest infrastructure. It’s the foundation that holds everything else up.
We have the capacity for incredible bayanihan and pakikipag-kapwa. We have the faith, resilience and the heart to face any catastrophe. Let's channel that spirit now, before the ground shakes. Let's build a culture so resilient that even when the "Big One" comes, our spirit remains unbroken.
This week, what is one small, deliberate act of preparedness you will do for your home? Share it with a friend and inspire them to do the same. Our collective safety depends on our individual choices.
- Susan Grace Rivera
Posted on: October 12, 2025
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