General Santos City marks 58th anniversary after deadly quake

General Santos City commemorated its 58th founding anniversary one week after a magnitude 7.8 earthquake devastated the area. The quake affected more than 180,000 families, caused 22 deaths, injured over 500 people, and damaged more than 25,000 homes, with thousands completely destroyed. Mayor Lorelie Pacquiao urged residents to remain hopeful and united, echoing the phrase “Shaken but unbroken” in her anniversary message. Community members, volunteers, religious groups and local officials have been distributing relief supplies and providing shelter as the city shifts from emergency response to long‑term rehabilitation. Ongoing challenges include rebuilding homes, repairing infrastructure and restoring normalcy for displaced families.