83-year-old Francisco Tante has survived decades of earthquakes, raised a family hundreds of kilometers away from his native Cebu, and built a life in southern Mindanao. But after Monday's devastating magnitude 7.8 earthquake shattered his home in Glan, Sarangani, one thought continues to haunt him: he wants to see Carcar again.

Now staying in a temporary evacuation site at Plaza Rizal in Glan with his wife, children, and neighbors, the elderly farmer-turned-small vendor recounted how he narrowly escaped death when the powerful quake struck. Tante, a native of Carcar City in Cebu, moved to Sarangani years ago to start a new life. He hasn't been back to his hometown in decades.

The magnitude 7.8 earthquake struck Monday, June 8, 2026, off the coast of Sarangani Province. The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS) recorded the epicenter at 5.5°N, 125.2°E, about 30 kilometers southwest of Glan. The quake was tectonic in origin and occurred at a depth of 10 kilometers. Dozens of aftershocks followed, some reaching magnitude 5.0.

The death toll has climbed to 55 as of Thursday, June 11, with over 1,100 injured. Search and rescue operations continue in hard-hit areas, particularly in Glan and nearby municipalities. Thousands of families are in evacuation centers, many having lost their homes completely.

Tante's house in Glan was among those destroyed. He and his family escaped with only the clothes on their backs. At the Plaza Rizal evacuation site, they share cramped tents with other displaced families. Food, water, and medicine are in short supply.

For Tante, the loss of his home has reawakened a deep longing for Carcar, the town where he was born and grew up. He remembers the old houses, the church, and the familiar streets. But going back isn't simple. He has no money for transportation, and his children's livelihoods are in Sarangani. Still, he hopes that somehow, before he dies, he can see Carcar one more time.

The local government of Glan, together with the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office of Sarangani, is distributing relief goods. The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) has also sent food packs and hygiene kits. But the needs are overwhelming. Many evacuees, like Tante, are elderly and require special medical attention.

PHIVOLCS has advised residents to stay away from damaged buildings and to be ready for aftershocks. The agency also warned of possible landslides in mountainous areas and ground rupture along fault lines. The earthquake's epicenter is near the Cotabato Trench, a seismically active region.

For now, Tante sits on a plastic chair under a makeshift tarpaulin, staring at the sky. His question hangs in the air, unanswered.