4-month-old survives Cebu earthquake tragedy as family perishes beneath collapsed home

• A magnitude 6.9 quake struck Gibitngil Island, Medellin, Cebu, on a quiet Tuesday night
• Fisherman Wilson Pilones lost his son, daughter-in-law, and grandson when a boulder crushed their home
• Pilones and neighbors dug through the rubble with bare hands, hoping for a miracle
• Only his four-month-old granddaughter, Briana Grace, survived the tragedy

What began as a peaceful evening on Gibitngil Island in Medellin, Cebu, turned into a nightmare for fisherman Wilson Pilones, who was jolted awake by the violent shaking of the ground during the magnitude 6.9 earthquake.

“’Umuuga, umuuga na! Hala!’ sigaw ng asawa ko. ‘Bai! Lindol, Bai? Lumabas na kayo!’ Hinila ko mga anak ko. Hindi ko siya [Marwen] naalala, ma’am, na nasa baba pa siya,” Wilson recalled in an interview with ABS-CBN News.

Just a few meters away stood the house of his eldest son, Marwen, whose home was crushed by a huge rock that rolled down from the hill during the tremor.

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As the ground continued to shake, Wilson rushed to dig through the debris with his bare hands, desperate to find his son’s family.

“‘Panginoon, tulungan mo ako na mahukay ko ang aking anak.’ Inilipat ko ang bato. Hinukay ko kahit na umuuga ang lupa. Hinukay ko para mailigtas ko sana sila, pero wala nang buhay,” he said tearfully.

When the rescue ended, the bodies of Marwen, his wife Katherine, and their six-year-old son Jacob were recovered. But amid the heartbreaking loss, one small miracle emerged — Marwen’s four-month-old daughter, Briana Grace, was found alive.

Now in the care of her grandparents, Briana has become a symbol of hope for Wilson and his family.

“Sa awa ng Panginoon, nakasurvive ang bata, ma’am. Milagro siya ng Panginoon,” he said, holding on to faith amid the devastation left by the powerful quake.

News, photos, or videos that arouse the interest of netizens would often go viral on social media, due to the attention netizens give them. These viral posts appeal to the emotions of netizens, and in rare cases, this could also happen to ordinary people, making them very relatable.

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In a previous report by KAMI, a magnitude 6.9 quake struck off Bogo City at 9:59 p.m., upgraded from initial 6.7, according to Phivolcs. Death toll rose to 35, with 30 in Bogo City and 5 in San Remigio, including a 10-year-old boy. Sports complex collapsed during a basketball game, killing Coast Guard and BFP members; rescuers still searching. Classes suspended and safety checks ordered, as Cebu faces power outages, communication cuts, and aftershock warnings.

In another viral local report, a 51-year-old public school teacher in Las Piñas City was stabbed multiple times by her own husband. According to the report of EJ Gomez in 'Unang Balita,' the 38-year-old suspect committed the crime inside the school's faculty room. Police authorities said the school has a security guard, but, being a familiar face in the school, the suspect managed to easily get in and out of the school. The suspect said he was there to talk to his wife and settle their misunderstanding, but unfortunately, it led to a big arguement.

Source: KAMI.com.gh