A powerful earthquake measuring 7.7 on the Richter scale struck the northern Philippines on July 16, 1990, causing widespread devastation, particularly in regions such as Benguet, Pangasinan, Nueva Ecija, La Union, Aurora, Bataan, Zambales, and Tarlac. The event occurred at approximately 4:26 PM local time, rapidly inflicting damage across a wide area. Homes crumbled, infrastructure suffered severe impacts, and many lives were disrupted permanently. As buildings collapsed, the loss of life mounted, with thousands injured. The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS) reported numerous aftershocks that instilled fear within the already traumatized communities.In response to this disaster, local government units, along with national agencies, initiated comprehensive rescue and rehabilitation efforts. These included establishing temporary shelters for the homeless and mobilizing medical teams for the injured. International aid poured in as various countries extended their support to help alleviate the crisis. Efforts to recover from the devastation spurred improvements in disaster preparedness plans across the region and highlighted the necessity for building codes that could withstand such catastrophic seismic events.The 1990 Luzon earthquake underscored the geological vulnerability of the Philippines, which lies within the Pacific Ring of Fire, known for its seismic activity. The event served as a pivotal moment in changing how the national government, local authorities, and residents approached disaster risk reduction, leading to a stronger focus on infrastructure safety, early warning systems, and community preparedness programs.