Whispers Beneath the Mountains: A Morning of Tremors in Cordillera and Isabela

BAGUIO CITY — As dawn broke over Northern Luzon on June 2, 2025, the earth stirred beneath the stillness. In a span of just over two hours, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) recorded seven mild earthquakes shaking parts of the Cordillera Region and Isabela province — a quiet yet persistent reminder of the restless forces beneath.

The first jolt came at 5:49 a.m., a magnitude 2.1 quake striking 61 kilometers east-southeast of Palanan, Isabela, at a depth of 20 kilometers. It was a subtle awakening — the prelude to more.

Less than an hour later, Isabela felt two more tremors. At 6:24 a.m., a 2.0-magnitude quake struck just 6 kilometers west-southwest of Roxas, followed by a 1.8-magnitude tremor at 6:56 a.m., 10 kilometers west-southwest of Mallig. Both were shallow, subtle movements of the Earth, yet enough to ripple through local awareness.

By 7:06 a.m., a fourth quake hit Isabela — again near Roxas — clocking in at magnitude 2.1 and adding to the region’s early morning unrest.

But the shaking wasn’t isolated. Over the towering peaks of the Cordillera, Mountain Province became the next to stir. At 6:30 a.m., a 2.5-magnitude quake struck 11 kilometers east-southeast of Paracelis. Two more tremors would follow: a 1.7-magnitude quake at 7:24 a.m. and a 2.3-magnitude at 8:17 a.m., both near Paracelis, deep beneath the ancient mountain soil.

Not to be left untouched, Ifugao province also recorded a quake — a 2.4-magnitude tremor at 7:07 a.m., just 3 kilometers northwest of Alfonso Lista.

Though none of these quakes caused damage or panic, the frequency and concentration of activity painted a vivid picture: the mountains may seem immovable, but beneath them, the Earth is very much alive — shifting, breathing, warning in whispers.