I was in Cebu City when the October 15, 2013 Bohol earthquake hit Central Visayas. One moment, I was having breakfast with my Aunt Mila and Lakang when everything just shook uncontrollably. I had to herd both seniors out of the house to be safer. I remember that I was crying for no reason, the fear eating me as I watched the tall apartment near our house sway until parts of its wall crumbled and fell. This powerful earthquake measured 7.2 on the magnitude scale and, according to official reports, was strongly felt across Central Visayas, particularly in Bohol and Cebu. It was also experienced in many parts of the Visayas, reaching as far north as Masbate and as far south as Cotabato in Mindanao. Around 222 lives were lost with eight missing and 976 injured.
Recently, another strong quake hit again, this time with its epicenter in Bogo City, Cebu. Its magnitude was 6.9, with at least 72 people killed and 559 injured. Once again, though, Cebuanos from all over immediately banded together and displayed that well-known Cebuano resilience, strength, and faith.
The province of Cebu has always lived with the reality of earthquakes. Its geography places it near several active fault systems in the Visayas. The Central Cebu Fault runs across the island itself, while nearby seismic sources such as the Negros Trench and East Negros Fault add to the risk. Cebu also lies within the collision zone of the Philippine Sea Plate and the Eurasian Plate, part of the Pacific ‘Ring of Fire’, where seismic activity is a constant threat. This vulnerability has left its mark on Cebu’s history.
Records show that in 1877, the Visayas island felt the effects of a destructive earthquake in northern Mindanao. In Camiguin, a volcano once believed extinct erupted after weeks of tremors. The shocks destroyed churches in Mambajao and Catarman and triggered landslides across Camiguin, Bohol, Cebu, and nearby.
In 1922, Cebu suffered another strong earthquake, this time destroying major landmarks: the Bishop’s Palace, the Convent of the Recoletos, and the Protestant Episcopal Church. It was a stark reminder that even in more settled times, the ground beneath Cebu was never truly at rest.
Fifteen years later, in 1937, a mild earthquake was felt across the eastern Visayas, including Cebu, Samar, Leyte, and Bohol. Occurring at 9:24 A.M., it went unnoticed in Manila but was a reminder of the region’s ever-present seismic activity. On May 23, 1941, another tremor shook Cebu at 10:49 A.M. Measured at intensity 4, it lasted only seven seconds but was enough to cause panic. Workers at the Capitol and the customhouse rushed into the streets; fortunately, no damage or casualties were reported.
Then in 1948, one of the most destructive quakes of the mid-20th century struck the Visayas. At least 21 died, with many injured. Panay bore the brunt of the destruction, as Iloilo’s water system was crippled and massive fissures tore across its roads and railways. Cebu, Leyte, and Marinduque, also felt the shocks, though with less devastation.
Later, in 1989, another earthquake struck. At 3:15 P.M., a magnitude 6.6 quake struck off the east coast of Bohol. Cebu reported injuries of at least 15 people. The quake was felt across the Visayas and parts of Mindanao, followed by numerous aftershocks.
The most painful reminder in recent memory was the October 15, 2013 magnitude 7.2 earthquake that struck Bohol, which toppled centuries-old churches, damaged infrastructure, and claimed hundreds of lives. Cebu, though not the epicenter, also suffered heavily.
From the volcanic eruption of 1877 to the devastation of 2013, Cebu’s story has been shaped time and again by earthquakes. Its place on the Ring of Fire ensures that tremors will always be part of its narrative –a reminder of nature’s power, but also a display of the resilience and strength of its people. Bangon, Cebu!