03/10/2025
"TABANG, LORD!"
The word “tabang” in Cebu means “help” or “aid.”
“Tabang, Lord”—literally means, “Help, Lord.”
More than just a phrase, it is a prayer that rises instinctively from the heart when danger strikes.
Last night, as a 6.9 earthquake shook Cebu and video circulated online, a common call was heard: “Tabang, Lord!” “Lord, help!”
“Jesus Christ!”
It is in our nature to run to God when our world is shaken. Like children rushing to the arms of their parent, we instinctively cling to Him, because we know He is our refuge, and He alone has the power to take over when things are not in our control.
The Psalmist proclaims, “God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble” (Psalm 46:1). And indeed, in that trembling hour, faith was heard not in eloquent prayers but in the desperate, honest cry of “Tabang, Lord.”
But this cry is not only one of fear—it is also one of surrender. It is the humble admission that we cannot save ourselves, that only God is the firm foundation no earthquake can destroy.
As we pray for Cebu and all those affected, may we be reminded: God hears every plea, every whispered “Lord, help.” And He promises, “I will never leave you nor forsake you” (Hebrews 13:5).
When the earth trembles, when life itself shakes, there is One we can always turn to. Tabang, Lord.
