17/10/2025
๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐?
Written by Y.C. Yap
Cartoon by Z. Defante
Last October 13, 2025, Laguna Governor Sol Aragones announced the suspension of all face-to-face classes from October 14 to 31 in both public and private schools across the province. This decision was made after a series of earthquakes occurred in different parts of the Philippines, raising concerns for the safety of students and teachers. During this period, classes will continue through online or modular learning. I agree with this decision because the safety of students should always come first before anything else, even before lessons and grades.
The Philippines often experiences earthquakes because it lies along the Pacific Ring of Fire. Just a few days before the announcement, a 7.4-magnitude quake hit Davao Oriental and a 6.9-magnitude quake struck Cebu, destroying buildings and taking lives. Some say Laguna hasnโt felt any strong quake yet, so thereโs no reason to stop classes. But do we really need to wait for a disaster before we act? Since the West Valley Fault runs close to our province, itโs better to prevent danger than to regret later. Stopping face-to-face classes isnโt panic, itโs protection.
Here in Biรฑan City Senior High School โ San Antonio Campus, the truth is hard to ignore. The floors are cracked, the walls are damaged, and some classrooms donโt look strong enough to handle a powerful shake. Others might say, โItโs just a small crack,โ but those small cracks could be deadly when the ground starts to move. Iโd rather study online than risk my life under a weak ceiling. Safety isnโt being dramatic; itโs being smart and aware.
Still, not everyone agrees with this suspension. One citizen commented on Governor Aragonesโ Facebook post, saying, โI donโt see the point, earthquakes canโt be predicted, so why stop classes for 18 days? It can happen anywhere, at home, in malls, or on the road. In school, at least teachers can protect students. This is too much!โ Others even compared us to Japan and Taiwan, where people go about their normal routines despite daily tremors.
But letโs be honest, weโre not Japan or Taiwan. Their buildings are designed to survive strong earthquakes; ours are not. Even some schools here have visible damage. How can we say weโre ready when our own classrooms already show signs of weakness? Being careful doesnโt mean weโre afraid, it means weโre brave enough to admit the truth and do something before itโs too late.
Some citizens also worry about the second periodical exams being delayed. Students, on the other hand, worry about their baon since they wonโt be going to school for almost three weeks. These are valid concerns, but missing a few exams or allowances is nothing compared to the risk of being in danger. We can always earn money again, and we can always take exams another time, but we can never bring back a life once itโs lost.
The suspension may not please everyone, but it gives what matters mostโpeace of mind. This decision is not about fear; itโs about responsibility. We can always recover lost time in learning, but we can never recover lives taken by disaster. Governor Aragones made the right call. Safety should never be seen as an overreaction, itโs the strongest lesson we can learn outside the classroom.
