GLAN, Sarangani Province — What began as an ordinary Monday morning turned into a heartbreaking tragedy for a family in Pacman Village, Barangay Tango, Glan, after a mother and her child were killed when their home collapsed during the powerful magnitude 7.8 earthquake that struck off the coast of Sarangani on June 8.
The victims, identified by relatives as the wife and child of Danilo Dante Miralves, were unable to escape their house as the violent shaking rocked the community. According to initial reports, the family’s home was struck by a collapsing wall and buried by debris and soil triggered by the strong tremor.
Neighbors immediately rushed to help and desperately tried to rescue the trapped mother and child. Despite their efforts, the two were pulled from the rubble without signs of life.
The most heartbreaking moment came when the father arrived and discovered that both his wife and child had already died.
Witnesses described the scene as devastating. Overcome with grief, the father embraced the lifeless bodies of his loved ones and broke down in tears, unable to contain the pain of losing his family in a matter of moments.
“While the ground was shaking, the mother and child were not able to get out of the house in time,” one resident said. “When their husband and father arrived, the house was already badly damaged.”
Photos and videos from the community showed the extent of the destruction left by the earthquake. The family’s modest home was reduced to ruins, leaving behind shattered walls, twisted roofing materials, and debris scattered across the area.
Poverty Deepens the Family’s Pain
The tragedy has been compounded by the family’s financial hardship.
The remains of the mother and child are now laid out inside a relative’s residence in Purok 4, Pacman Village. Due to poverty, the family could not immediately afford coffins for the victims, forcing relatives to hold a simple wake while waiting for assistance from government agencies and concerned individuals.
Family members are appealing for help as they struggle to cope with both their emotional loss and the financial burden brought about by the disaster.
Local officials said the Municipal Social Welfare and Development Office (MSWDO) is expected to provide assistance to the bereaved family.
Among the First Confirmed Fatalities
Authorities said the deaths of the mother and child are among the confirmed casualties linked to the powerful earthquake that struck Mindanao and severely affected parts of Sarangani Province, General Santos City, and neighboring areas.
The tremor caused extensive damage to homes, buildings, roads, and other infrastructure across several communities. Emergency responders continue to conduct search, rescue, and assessment operations in affected areas.
As of the latest report from the Office of Civil Defense (OCD), the earthquake has left 19 people dead, 134 injured, and seven others missing. The figures may still change as validation and rescue operations continue in remote and heavily affected communities.
Authorities have also warned residents to remain vigilant as aftershocks continue to be recorded and the risk of additional landslides remains high in vulnerable areas.
A Community in Mourning
For residents of Pacman Village, the deaths of the mother and child have become a painful symbol of the human cost of the disaster.
As neighbors gather to offer prayers and comfort to the grieving father, many are still struggling to come to terms with the sudden loss.
In a matter of seconds, a powerful earthquake shattered not only a home but an entire family, leaving behind a father whose embrace of his wife and child would be his final farewell.
As Mindanao begins the long process of recovery, stories like that of the Miralves family serve as a stark reminder that behind every casualty count is a family forever changed by tragedy.