The Month of Earthquakes - October 2025 and the Shaking Heart of a Nation

The Philippines is no stranger to shaking ground — but October 2025 has been different. More restless. More alarming.

Since September 30, the country has experienced a series of earthquakes, both minor tremors and significant jolts, that have rippled through Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao. And even though the month isn’t halfway over, hundreds of seismic events have already been recorded.

According to real-time alerts from the LastQuake App (you should download this app! developed by EMSC and designed by Helena Bukovac & Arian Bozorg), over a hundred tremors — many registering significant magnitudes — have shaken Philippine soil in just a few weeks. For many, it’s become part of daily conversation: the quiet vibration underfoot, the sudden shaking during work, the collective moment of holding one’s breath.

But fear is not the only appropriate response. Preparedness is.

Top 5 Things to Do During an Earthquake

1. Drop, Cover, and Hold On.

Immediately lower yourself to the ground, take cover under a sturdy desk or table, and hold on until the shaking stops.

2. Stay Indoors.

Unless the building is unsafe, don’t run outside — most injuries occur from falling debris near exits.

3. Keep Away from Glass and Heavy Objects.

Move away from windows, mirrors, or anything that can shatter or topple.

4. Protect Your Head and Neck.

Use your arms or any available cushion to shield vital areas from falling debris.

5. Stay Calm and Alert.

Your state of mind will influence those around you. Clear thinking saves lives.

Top 5 Things to Prepare Before an Earthquake

1. Emergency Go Bag.

Include water, food, flashlight, whistle, medicines, extra batteries, and important documents.

2. Communication Plan.

Agree with family members where to meet and how to contact each other if lines go down.

3. Secure Your Home.

Anchor heavy furniture, check gas lines, and clear exit paths.

4. Know the Safe Spots.

Identify sturdy tables or interior walls where you can take cover in each room.

5. Download Alert Apps.

Tools like LastQuake provide valuable seconds to prepare. Seconds matter.

5 Mindsets in the Middle of the Shake

1. Breathe and Stay Grounded. Don’t panic — think.

2. Lead or Listen. Follow practiced drills or guide those who need help.

3. Focus on Safety, Not Possessions. Objects can be replaced. Lives can’t.

4. Keep Communication Short and Clear. Relay only important information.

5. Be Ready for Aftershocks. Earthquakes rarely come alone.

The Big One — A Reality, Not a Myth

When Filipinos speak of “The Big One,” they refer to the projected major earthquake along the West Valley Fault, a 100-kilometer fault line that cuts through Metro Manila and nearby provinces.

According to the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS), the fault is capable of generating a magnitude 7.2 earthquake — strong enough to cause severe ground shaking, massive infrastructure damage, and widespread disruption.

The West Valley Fault runs through several densely populated areas, including:

• Bulacan: San Jose del Monte

• Rizal: Rodriguez (Montalban), San Mateo

• Quezon City: Batasan Hills, Loyola Grand Villas, and surrounding barangays

• Marikina City

• Pasig City

• Taguig City

• Muntinlupa City

• Laguna: San Pedro, Biñan, Santa Rosa, Cabuyao, Calamba

PHIVOLCS warns that ground rupture can occur along this line during a major event. The last major movement of the West Valley Fault happened more than 300 years ago. Since the fault moves roughly every 400 years, experts emphasize that preparedness—not panic—is the most responsible response.

Government agencies have repeatedly urged residents and LGUs in these cities to retrofit structures, conduct earthquake drills, and establish evacuation plans.

The Big One isn’t a matter of if, but when. And being informed is the first line of defense.

A Closing Note: Awareness and Mobility

Earthquakes are reminders — that the ground beneath us is alive, and that preparation is never wasted. In a country like the Philippines, where fault lines crisscross like veins under the surface, awareness isn’t paranoia. It’s responsibility.

Download the apps. Practice the drills. Secure the spaces where you live. Share the knowledge.

Because when the ground moves again — and it will — the difference between panic and survival is often measured in what you did before the shaking began.

by Othello

® billymacdeus.com | follow us on FB The Quarantined Tipsters

Ambition vs. Aspiration: The Line You Didn’t Know You’ve Crossed

 

There’s a fine line between striving to make a difference—and striving to make an impression.

That’s the thin but obvious line separating ambition from aspiration.

We Filipinos know this too well. We grow up hearing “Anak, magsikap ka para umasenso ka,” the classic chorus of parents hoping their children rise above struggle. And so we do. We work hard. We dream bigger. We chase success. But somewhere along the way, asenso starts to sound less about fulfillment—and more about flex.

The truth? The line between ambition and aspiration often blurs when the applause gets louder than the purpose.

Let's deep dive...

Ambition: The Drive to Have

Ambition isn’t inherently bad. It gets you out of bed at 5 a.m., makes you study harder, work longer, and push past your limits. It’s the spark that makes someone from a small barangay in Batangas dream of building a tech startup in Makati, or a nurse from Iloilo set her sights on a hospital job in London.

Ambition is fire—and fire builds. But left unchecked, it also burns.

Because when ambition feeds only on comparison—when you chase validation instead of value—you start running faster but going nowhere. You start posting your life, not living it. You start competing against people who were never even in your lane.

Ambition asks, “How far can I go?”

Aspiration whispers, “How much good can I do?”

⸻

Aspiration: The Will to Become

Aspiration is quieter, but deeper. It’s not about climbing ladders—it’s about lifting others while you climb. It’s not measured by titles, likes, or luxury; it’s measured by peace, impact, and purpose.

Think of your Lola who taught neighborhood kids to read, not for money but for meaning. Or the teacher who stays late after class because one student needed help understanding fractions. Or the OFW who sends remittances home, not for show, but because love for family is her life’s mission.

Aspiration doesn’t shout—it sustains.

It’s the same drive that pushes a community volunteer to rebuild homes after a typhoon, or a young artist to keep painting despite rejection. It’s what turns success into service.

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The Filipino Balancing Act

In a country where utang na loob and pakikisama coexist with relentless hustle culture, Filipinos constantly walk that tightrope. We want progress, but not pride. We want recognition, but also respect.

Our culture teaches us humility—wag masyadong mayabang—but the modern world tells us to self-promote or be forgotten. Somewhere in the middle lies the sweet spot: the courage to dream big without losing the grace to stay grounded.

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The Universal Lesson

Across all cultures, the question remains: Why do you want what you want?

If the answer is rooted in love, purpose, and growth, that’s aspiration.

If it’s rooted in comparison, ego, and envy, that’s ambition—unchecked and unsustainable.

Both can drive success. But only one builds character.

In the end, ambition might get you noticed.

But aspiration—pure, persistent, and principled—will make you remembered.

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So, ask yourself tonight: Are you chasing applause or meaning?

Because life isn’t about who climbs the highest, but who uplifts others along the way.

And when the noise fades, and the lights dim, it’s aspiration—not ambition—that leaves a light on for those who follow.

Ambition wants to win. 

Aspiration wants to matter.

Mix it, and be the solution ◡̈ 

by Othello 2025

® billymacdeus.com | follow us on FB The Quarantined Tipsters

note: the photo was taken while we were doing walkies on a soft breezy October dawn where a moon shine is a bit flexing its beauty and wonder.

Charity wrapped with dignity

 Charity is not just about giving; it’s about how we give. Too often, generosity comes with strings attached — recognition, validation, or even subtle reminders that one is indebted. But the highest form of charity is one that preserves dignity: when the giver steps back, and the recipient feels not stripped, but uplifted. Because help that humiliates is not help at all.

“Let your kindness be quiet,

your giving unseen.

Charity wrapped with dignity

is a gift both ways —

it frees the heart of the giver,

and it uplifts the soul of the one in need.”

We Filipinos are no strangers to charity. From relief packs during typhoons to food drives in barangays, to cash envelopes discreetly slipped into a relative’s hand, giving is deeply woven into our culture of bayanihan.

But let’s be honest: not all charity is equal. Some forms uplift. Others, while well-intentioned, can leave behind a sting of humiliation.

A family falls in line under the scorching sun to receive food aid. Cameras are flashing, drones are overhead, politicians are smiling for photo ops. Yes, the family receives rice and canned goods — but they also receive something else: the reminder that their struggle is public spectacle.

That is charity without dignity.

Because true charity is not just about what we give, but how we give it. It’s the difference between handing someone a meal with a spotlight, and sharing that meal quietly, as if breaking bread with an equal.

Charity wrapped with dignity preserves the humanity of the one receiving it. It does not say, “You are less, and I am more.” Instead, it says, “You are like me — and today, I am able to help.”

In our culture, this principle is embedded in small gestures we sometimes overlook. The neighbor who leaves vegetables on your doorstep without a word. The overseas Filipino worker sending remittances back home, not as charity but as love wrapped in responsibility. These are acts of giving that don’t strip dignity, but protect it.

The challenge in our age of social media is resisting the urge to turn charity into content. Every photo of “me helping the poor” risks placing the giver at the center, when charity should always center on the one in need. The best stories of kindness are often the ones untold.

“The highest form of charity is to help someone in a way that they no longer need charity.” But equally true is this: the most beautiful form of charity is one that, while given, never makes the receiver feel small.

Because hunger can be eased with food. Poverty can be softened with money. But dignity? Once lost, it is harder to restore.

And so, as Filipinos, let us not only give. Let us give with respect. Let us give quietly. Let us give in a way that uplifts, not parades. That is the charity that truly heals.

Charity wrapped with dignity is more than aid. It is solidarity. It is compassion. It is love without conditions. And in the end, it is the kind of charity that leaves both giver and receiver whole.

bonus: here's a 2024 Essay about Charity in a true life scenario

by Othello 2025

® billymacdeus.com | follow us on FB The Quarantined Tipsters

The Exit Wounds We Carry (What is an exit wound by the way?)

We often talk about the entry wounds in life — the moments pain comes rushing in. The first heartbreak. The rejection letter. The betrayal you never saw coming. These are easy to name, to point at, to remember.

But what we forget is that pain doesn’t just enter. It leaves, too. And when it does, it leaves behind something just as haunting: exit wounds.

In medicine, an exit wound is jagged, torn, larger than the entry. It’s the proof that something passed through, that it didn’t just pierce you — it ripped its way out. Life is no different.

When someone leaves your world — a lover, a parent, a friend — the wound they leave behind is rarely neat. It doesn’t slip away quietly. It tears. It splinters. It leaves an outline of absence, a scar that whispers: something once lived here, and now it’s gone...

Think about it:

- A relationship ends. The entry wound was the first fight. The exit wound is the silence after years of laughter.

- You lose a job. The entry wound was the email with “We regret to inform you…” The exit wound is the empty morning routine, no reason to rush for coffee.

- A loved one passes away. The entry wound was the news. The exit wound is the birthdays, the anniversaries, the quiet corners of the house where their presence once filled the air.

Exit wounds are brutal because they don’t just mark where pain began — they show where life had to rearrange itself after something was torn away.

And yet, here’s the strange thing about wounds: they heal. Slowly, imperfectly, but they heal. Scar tissue forms. The skin remembers, but it also hardens. Over time, what once felt unbearable becomes part of the story of survival.

Maybe that’s what makes exit wounds both tragic and beautiful. They are proof that you endured. Proof that you were strong enough to keep walking, even after something tore its way through your life.

So the next time you feel broken by loss, remind yourself: the wound that hurts most is also the one that proves you’re still here. Exit wounds don’t just mark where something left you — they mark where you kept going.

And maybe that’s the quiet victory of being human: to carry scars not as signs of weakness, but as maps of every battle we’ve survived.

by Othello 2025

® billymacdeus.com | follow us on FB The Quarantined Tipsters

Why Social Media is addictive, and some tips to balance it

Opinion | Why Social Media Is Addictive Like Gambling

Scroll. Refresh. Click. Like. Repeat.

It’s a cycle most of us know too well — not because we’re weak, but because social media was designed that way. In many ways, your phone is not just a device. It’s a slot machine in your pocket. Each notification, each swipe, each heart is a pull of the lever, promising the chance of reward. Sometimes you win; sometimes you don’t. But the very uncertainty — the thrill of *what if* — is what keeps you coming back.

Psychologists call it “variable reward,” the same mechanism that makes casinos profitable and gamblers restless. But instead of coins and flashing lights, our digital jackpots come in the form of likes, shares, and little red icons.

To understand why social media is so addictive, we need to look at the key levers being pulled — some obvious, others subtle, but all remarkably effective:

1. Dopamine Rewards — The Thrill of the Unknown

The unpredictability of likes and notifications triggers dopamine, the brain’s “reward chemical.” Research at Harvard Medical School shows that unpredictable rewards are more addictive than guaranteed ones. (It’s like playing bingo at the lamay — you never know if the next number completes your card, but the possibility excites you.)

2. Endless Design — The Scroll That Never Ends

Infinite scroll and auto-play trap us in loops. A 2019 study from the University of Hamburg confirmed that people exposed to endless feeds underestimate time spent by as much as 50%. (*We think “isa pa bago matulog,” but suddenly it’s 2 a.m.*)

3. Social Validation — Hearts as Currency

Humans crave belonging. Social media weaponizes this by turning approval into visible numbers. In a Filipino context, where pakikisama and collective belonging run deep, digital validation can feel more irresistible than a face-to-face compliment.

4. Comparison Culture — The Trap of Highlight Reels

We compare our messy realities with others’ curated feeds. Stanford researchers found that even brief exposure to idealized Instagram posts can reduce self-esteem and increase depressive symptoms. In the Philippines, where hiya (shame) shapes behavior, these comparisons can magnify inadequacy.

5. Hijacked Time — Life Lost in Minutes

A Microsoft study revealed the average human attention span dropped to 8 seconds — shorter than a goldfish. Globally, this erodes productivity and focus. Locally, it quietly steals moments once reserved for family dinners, Sunday family bonding, and siesta. The cost isn’t just hours, but connection and rest.

The good news: we are not powerless. Just as technology exploits psychology, we can use awareness and intentional habits to reclaim our time and attention. These are 5 ways to reclaim autonomy:

1. Set “Friction Points.

Delete apps from your home screen or disable push notifications. A Cornell University study shows that increasing effort — even a single extra step to access an app — reduces compulsive use.

2. Follow the 20-Minute Rule.

Allocate fixed slots in your day to check social media, like after lunch or dinner. Research from the University of Chicago found that “time-boxing” digital activity significantly reduces mindless scrolling. Use a timer if needed - handy on your smartphone -- name it as "stop scrolling now!" set to 20 minutes

3. Replace, Don’t Just Remove.

When you cut screen time, fill it with something tangible: walking, reading, journaling, or talking to a friend. Otherwise, the brain defaults to the habit. Filipino values of bayanihan and pakikipagkapwa remind us that shared, offline experiences matter.

4. Practice “I'll be Off the Grid"

Take one day a week (or even half a day) completely offline. MIT studies show that short but regular digital detoxes lower anxiety and improve concentration. Think of it as a modern pahinga for the mind.

5. Curate, Don’t Just Consume.

Follow accounts that educate and uplift, not just entertain or provoke envy. Studies from the University of Pennsylvania suggest that intentionally curating your feed improves mood and reduces symptoms of loneliness.

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The Harder Truth

Yes, it’s tempting to say discipline is enough. But if billions struggle, then the problem is not just individual but systemic. We need platforms that respect attention, governments that set humane guardrails, and communities that prioritize human connection over clicks.

Because here’s the haunting reality: every time we lose ourselves to the infinite scroll, it’s not just minutes slipping away. It’s life deferred — laughter unsaid, prayers unspoken, love unshared.

And one day, when we finally look up from our screens, will we recognize the life we’ve postponed?

/admin-O

® billymacdeus.com | follow us on FB The Quarantined Tipsters