OFW recounts quake experience in Taiwan

CEBU, Philippines - A Cebuana working as manufacturing technician in Taiwan believes in the power of prayer after she was spared from harm during the magnitude 6.4 earthquake that hit the island Saturday dawn.

Gleceria Batulan said she and her Tagalog co-worker were on the third floor of the five-storey Chipmos Technologies Building in Tainan, Taiwan when it started to shake at around 4 a.m.

Batulan said there were only two of them left in their workplace because the others were on a break.

 “Pagka-feel nako nga linog nakuyawan na ko, unya naa mi sulod sa production ga-work mi, busy kaayo mi sa akong kauban while among uban nag-break time, duha rami sa among area nahabilin,” Batulan told The Freeman in an interview on Facebook.

 She said they would have wanted to run to seek cover but could not find a safe place. Batulan said they instead dropped on the floor waiting for the tremor to stop.

 “Kusog g’yud kay naa bitaw maka-feel ka ni-wave siya left to right then kalit og kurog nga makadungog ka ang mga door sa machine naglamba-lamba na, tapos amoang product kay nangatumba sa iyang nahimotangan,” she said.

Batulan said her legs were trembling in fear and the only thing that first came into her mind was to stay safe in a corner and pray.

“Kanang wala ka kahiblo asa ka paingon motago kay wala kay katagoan kay sorrounded ka’g mga machine. Namungko mi sa kilid wala mi lain mabuhat sa akong kauban kundi mag-ampo nga nanghilak,” she added.

Batulan said she instantly knew how to pray because of her experience.

“Salbahis man ko gamay di ko kamao mag-ampo sama sa pag-ampo sa uban nga nindot kaayo pagka-istorya bah, pero akong pag-ampo kanang sangpit g’yud ka’g maayo sa Ginoo gikan sa imong kasing-kasing g’yud nga mora ra’g nakig-istorya bitaw, nya naghilak ka ba,” she said.

Batulan said that during the incident she remembered the magnitude 7.2 earthquake that hit the Visayas in 2013. She said they were later allowed to go home after the quake. (FREEMAN)