Child in Mindanao’s First Day Of School: ‘I Didn’t Expect There Would Be An Earthquake’

Instead of enjoying her first day of classes, 13-year-old Mary Ann was met with panic when a powerful earthquake struck her school in Mindanao on Monday morning, June 8.

“I didn’t expect that there would be an earthquake on the first day of school,” said Mary Ann, 13, who hails from Kidapawan. She shared that she and her classmates followed the “duck, cover, and hold” procedure when the earthquake struck and were later encouraged by a classmate to immediately evacuate to their school’s open grounds.

Mindanao, in the southern Philippines, was jolted by a magnitude 7.8 earthquake with its epicenter recorded in Maasim, Sarangani, affecting nearby provinces. Aftershocks were also recorded.

The earthquake triggered a tsunami warning issued by the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS), advising residents in affected coastal areas to evacuate to higher ground. PHIVOLCS later confirmed that tsunami waves of up to 1.4 meters were recorded in various provinces, the highest in Kiamba, Sarangani, before the alert was subsequently lifted.

Classes were suspended following the earthquake, along with the cancellation of flights and sea travel to and from Mindanao. The Office of Civil Defense also reported 19 fatalities.

Data from the Department of Education (DepEd) showed that approximately 3.2 million learners across five regions in Mindanao were affected, along with around 128,800 personnel in 6,224 public schools.

Meanwhile, the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) estimated that damage totaling P1 billion (around USD $16.2 million) was recorded in General Santos City alone.

In Mindanao, World Vision operates eight area programmes supporting nearly 22,000 children. The earthquake affected operations in Davao, Sultan Kudarat, and North Cotabato, impacting around 8,100 assisted children in these areas.

“Children are among the most affected in disasters like this. Beyond the physical impact, many are experiencing fear and distress, especially with schools disrupted at the start of the academic year,” said Elizabeth Delgado, World Vision Operations Manager for Mindanao.

World Vision has deployed a rapid assessment team in the quake-affected areas to assess the damage and identify the urgent needs of children and families.

“Our assessment team is already deployed in areas near the epicenter to determine the impact of the disaster and the immediate needs of affected children and families, while coordinating closely with local government units. We are prioritizing the safety and protection of children as we continue to monitor the situation and prepare for immediate response,” Delgado added.

World Vision has been operating in the Philippines for 69 years and currently implements 31 area development programmes across Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao, focusing on child sponsorship and initiatives in education, livelihood, and child protection, among others.