DINALUPIHAN, Bataan — A three-story residential building here constructed for some P5 million tilted to its side while a big portion collapsed when it was jolted by the strong earthquake Monday afternoon.
As portions of the big house collapsed, debris hit and destroyed a small house adjacent to it in Barangay Torres. The couple in the latter house said they were fortunate that they were out at that time.
Milorie Gutierrez, owner of the big house, said the building was beyond repair: “Ipapa-demolish na dahil tumagilid.”
She said she has been living in her house since 2012. The cost of construction alone was from P4 million to P5 million and did not include valuables inside which she still could not quantify.
Gutierrez said she just left their house to attend to her sick father at about 10 minutes before the quake. “Sobrang lakas ng lindol. Gumagapang kami palabas sa pinuntahan namin at hindi kami makatakbo,” she said.
Lita dela Cruz, owner of the small house adjacent to the collapsed building, said she was at the door of her house when the earthquake hit. She said she could not stand properly because of the strong tremor.
“Nang makita kong patagilid ang bahay, nagtatakbo ako papunta sa bukid. Lagutukan ng basag na semento at yero narinig ko. Krak-krakkrak. Dahan-dahan ang pagbagsak, tumagilid habang lumilindol. Nang huminto ang lindol, bumagsak ng talaga,” dela Cruz said.
She said no one was hurt.
