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Mindanao Earthquake: Kenneth’s Four-Second Survival Story

“It’s only four seconds, sir. Four seconds of life.”

They say you can see your life as a movie when a sudden, life-threatening event occurs. For Kenneth, his movie lasted roughly four seconds. That is about the reaction time he had to escape his second-floor apartment before it collapsed right above his head. He fled into the night wearing only a T-shirt and underwear.

“While the earth was shaking, I ran to save my life.”

Kenneth and 23 other people living in tents at the Lagao evacuation centre in General Santos City find themselves in a difficult position. They lost their homes and their jobs, but because they were renters rather than owners, they face a unique hurdle. Since the government’s aid is focusing primarily on families who owned the homes they lost, these renters don’t receive much attention or support. That explains why, of the 66 families originally displaced to this evacuation centre after the earthquake, only they remain.
Kenneth is 22 years old. His family, including five siblings, lives in Malungon, not far from General Santos. They, too, have been affected by the disaster and are currently living outside their home because parts of their roof collapsed. Kenneth has decided not to tell them the full extent of his situation, wanting to spare them from worrying any more than they already are about their own circumstances.
He also has a child who lives with his mother about 60 kilometres away. With his former job as a salesman, Kenneth was able to help provide for his son. But now…

“That’s the problem, sir, because I don’t even have 5 pesos, I am waiting for the DSWD financial assistance.”

Mindanao Earthquake Philippines Disaster Response GAiN Australia
Mindanao Earthquake Philippines Disaster Response GAiN Australia
The DSWD is the Department of Social Welfare and Development, but it is highly likely he will not receive any assistance, as he did not lose a property of his own.
Most of the 24 remaining residents in the evacuation centre, who are mostly young workers, are looking either for new jobs or for the means to travel to Mindanao’s main city, Davao, where they hope to find work and sustain themselves. In Kenneth’s case, the situation is even more complex: all of his diplomas and other vital documents were destroyed in the earthquake collapse.

“To comply with the requirements… they are all gone.”

After learning that the residents weren’t receiving much help to meet their basic survival needs, one of our assessment team members suggested we buy some basic groceries for them. We did just that.

Because they didn’t expect us to return, it was a look of pure surprise on their faces when we showed up to drop off several boxes filled with food and water. More than just providing physical nourishment, we hoped to make them feel seen and to let them know that their needs matter.

Earlier that day, we had prayed for everyone, and specifically for Kenneth.
Mindanao Earthquake Philippines Disaster Response GAiN Australia

“Just that, hopefully, I can get quick cash assistance so that I can move immediately and start again,” he had requested.

And so, we prayed specifically for that. We invite you to pray for Kenneth and all the people currently stranded in a difficult “no man’s land” in the aftermath of this disaster. Our hope is that they will feel seen, valued, and loved, even through the smallest of actions.

How you can help: While we lift Kenneth and his community up in prayer, we also have the opportunity to be the practical answer to those prayers. Many renters and families affected by the Mindanao Earthquake have slipped through the cracks and are struggling to access basic necessities, let alone rebuild their lives.

Your generosity can provide critical emergency food, clean water, and the transition support they need to start over.

Would you partner with us to bring hope and aid to Mindanao?

Yes, I want to help