“Chona Mae!” Familiar, diba?
Hearing this name back in 2012 made people run for their lives out of fear of a tsunami.
This is just one of the many times when Cebuanos thought it was the end of their time on Earth.
Here are the monumental moments when Cebu “survived” the end of the world.
February 2012: Chona Mae or Tsunami?
This was one of those classic Facebook chain messages that spread like wildfire.
People thought it was some kind of prophecy or warning, but in reality, it was just another case of internet hysteria.
This fake news circulated around Facebook along the lines of “mag-ampo mo, kay muabot na si Chona Mae ug kataposan na sa kalibutan!”
The next time you believe these posts, make sure to check their source!
Is there proof? Any scientific explanation? If none, then that’s your sign to keep calm.
December 2012: Maya Apocalypse Prediction
Who could forget this one? The whole world was on edge because of misinterpretations of the Mayan calendar.
People thought that the world was supposed to “end” in 2012 because of this.
In Cebu, some people even prepared survival kits, but in the end, we just ended up having a normal day.
Some Cebuanos feasted on some lechon with a “survival party” from this hoax information.
2020-2023: COVID-19 Pandemic
Remember the face masks and face shields, the vaccines, and the lockdowns?
Well, hopefully, you got vaccinated even if the world did not end when the Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic spread around the world.
From ECQs and checkpoints to endless swab tests and “ayaw’g gawas kung dili importante,” this truly felt like the end of the world for many.
Despite surviving this era, people were still, and continuously, affected by the economic decline and healthcare issues until today.
Asteroid Impact in 2032?
After surviving three doomsdays, the Earth is about to allegedly get hit by another one.
Scientists are monitoring Asteroid YR4, but as with most asteroid threats–there’s a high chance it won’t land.
This is still something people love to speculate about, Cebuanos especially.
There are seven years to go before this theory gets officially debunked, but the science community continues to convince the people that there is nothing to worry about.
Congratulations to Cebu for surviving until now! There are still many years to go–and just like the COVID-19 pandemic, Cebuanos must fight against the disinformation epidemic.
How about you, are there any “end of the world” moments you encountered? Share them down below!
