So it really did happen. I was sitting in front of the PC lunch time Tuesday (27 Nov) doing some paperwork when I felt dizzy, as if the ground shook violently. I am located a few kilometers away from Manila, but I felt it.

GMA.news reports that the skyscrapers in the country’s capital swayed with the 5.4 magnitude quake.

In a phone interview with GMANews.TV, Jenjen de Ocampo, Phivolcs Science Research Specialist II, said the quake’s epicenter was located 77 kilometers northwest of Lingayen, Pangasinan. She said the quake was tectonic in origin and had a depth of 32 kilometers. The possible source of the earthquake was the Manila trench.

In its latest bulletin, Phivolcs said the quake was felt at intensity 6 in Lingayen, Pangasinan; intensity 5 in Bagac, Bataan; and intensity 4 in Caloocan City and Manila.

Also, Phivolcs said an intensity 3 quake was felt in Pasay, Pasig; Bulacan; Tarlac; Ilocos Sur; Ilocos Norte; Makati City; Las Piñas; and San Fernando, Pampanga. While the quake was felt at intensity 2 in Quezon City, Taguig, and Nueva Ecija.

Meanwhile, the Baguio City government suspended classes starting 1 p.m. Tuesday in public schools in all levels following the earthquake.

I bet a lot of people got scared out of their wits. I do hope no one was hurt in the hustle to find a desk or doorway.

I was in La Union when the horror-earthquake hit Baguio city in 16 July 1990. The aftershocks went on for days and weeks. I never want that to happen again.

Please Lord, have mercy on the Philippines. We can do without another natural calamity.