INTRODUCTION

1.1 Background of the Study

Volcanic eruptions can have global consequences on the environment, climate and

humans. Volcanic plumes, composed of ash and gases, produced during explosive

eruptions, can rise many kilometers above the eruptive vent to reach the stratosphere

where they can be dispersed globally by the atmospheric circulation.

The Taal Volcano, located in Tagaytay in Batangas, is one of the Philippines’

inactive volcanoes. It is also considered as one of the smallest volcanoes in the world.

The Taal Volcano recently erupted and caused damage to numerous people and vicinity

near it. It began erupting on the 3rd week of January in the year 2020.  

It made a phreatic eruption, or also known as a phreatic explosion. It is a steam-

blast eruption that occur when steam is made from the contact of cold underground water

with magma or hot rock. When the Taal Volcano erupted, no new magma were produced.

Only fragments of existing solid rocks from the volcano are released. They say that the

eruption of the volcano is “generally weak” even though it has damaged a lot of people.

Phreatic eruption, or any kind of volcanic eruption, is dangerous. Safety should

always be first since the eruption is not yet done up to present. The condition of the Taal

may worsen, and it can also become better. Who knows? The least we can do is to

research and to keep safe, and to follow the instructions the authorities will give.

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History of Explosion

There have been 42 recorded eruptions at Taal from 1572 to 1977. The first

eruption of which there is any record occurred in 1572, the year the Augustinian friars

founded the town of Taal on the shores of the lake (on what is now San Nicolas,

Batangas). In 1591, another mild eruption took place, featuring great masses of smoke

issuing forth from the crater. From 1605 to 1611, the volcano displayed such great

activity.

Between 1707 and 1731, the center of activity shifted from the Main Crater to

other parts of Volcano Island. The eruptions of 1707 and 1715 occurred in Binintiang

Malaki (giant leg) crater (the cinder cone visible from Tagaytay Ridge), accompanied by

thunder and lightning. Minor eruptions also emanated from the Binintiang Munti crater

on the westernmost tip of the island in 1709 and 1729. A more violent event happened on

24 Sept. 1716, when the whole southeastern portion of the crater of (Calauit),

opposite Mount Macolod, was blown out.

Activity returned to the Main Crater on 11 Aug. 1749, and it was remembered for

being particularly violent, with eruptions continuing until 1753. Then came the great 200-

day eruption of 1754, Taal Volcano's greatest recorded eruption, which lasted from 15

May to 12 Dec. The eruption caused the relocation of the towns

of Tanauan, Taal, Lipa and Sala. The Pansipit River was blocked, causing the water level

in the lake to rise.

Taal remained quiet for 54 years except for a minor eruption in 1790. Not until

March 1808 did another big eruption occur.

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 On July 19, 1874, an eruption of gases and ashes killed all the livestock on the

island. From November 12–15, 1878, ashes ejected by the volcano covered the entire

island. Another eruption took place in 1904, which formed a new outlet in the

southeastern wall of the principal crater. As of 12 January 2020, the last eruption from

the Main Crater was in 1911, which obliterated the crater floor creating the present lake.

In 1965, a huge explosion sliced off a huge part of the island, moving activity to a new

eruption center, Mount Tabaro.

20th Century (1911 eruption)

One of the more devastating eruptions of Taal occurred in January 1911. During

the night of the 27th of that month, the seismographs at the Manila Observatory

commenced to register frequent disturbances, which were at first of insignificant

importance, but increased rapidly in frequency and intensity. The total recorded shocks

on that day numbered 26. During the 28th there were recorded 217 distinct shocks, of

which 135 were micro seismic, while 10 were quite severe. The frequent and increasingly

strong earthquakes caused much alarm at Manila, but the observatory staff was soon able

to locate their epicenter in the region of Taal Volcano and assured the public that Manila

was in no danger, as Taal is distant from it some 60 km away.

It was crisscrossed with a brilliant electrical display, which the people of Manila

perceived as lightning. This cloud finally shot up in the air, spread, then dissipated, and

this marked the culmination of the eruption, at about 2:30 a.m.

On Volcano Island, the destruction was complete. It seems that when the black, fan-

shaped cloud spread, it created a blast downward that forced hot steam and gases down

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the slopes of the crater, accompanied by a shower of hot mud and sand. Many trees had

the bark shredded and cut away from the surface by the hot sand and mud blast that

accompanied the explosion, and contributed so much to the loss of life and destruction of

property.

Number of Deaths

The eruption claimed a reported 1,100 lives and injured 199, although it is known

that more perished than the official records show. The seven barangays that existed on

the island previous to the eruption were completely wiped out. Post mortem examination

of the victims seemed to show that practically all had died of scalding by hot steam or hot

mud, or both. The devastating effects of the blast reached the west shore of the lake,

where a number of villages were also destroyed. Cattle to the number of 702 were killed

and 543 nipa houses destroyed. Crops suffered from the deposit of ashes that fell to a

depth of almost half an inch in places near the shore of the lake.

Problem of Concern

There are hazards that people cannot avoid. Worst effects are loss of livelihood,

houses, assets and lives. Because of what happened, the researchers grab the opportunity

to make this problem at hand as a project of spreading awareness, information and also to

help.

The problem that the researchers have seen and therefore considered is the lack of

information and awareness of the people. These factors could really affect their lives. The

researchers came up with the idea of spreading good vibes while giving them lectures

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through a lecture program. They took the chance while the evacuees from different places

in Batangas near the Taal volcano are still in the municipality of San Juan.

Researchers seen and heard different struggles that the respondents have faced on

their way here in San Juan. Some said that they thought it will be their last day on earth.

And because of that, researchers formulated their main objective for this program.

1.2 Statement of the Problem

The main objective of this study is to disseminate information and awareness to the

people affected by the Taal, Volcanic eruption. The study aims to answer the following

questions.

1. What are the preparations do the people did before, during and after the calamity?

2. What have they experienced during the volcanic eruption?

3. What are the possible calamities that may occur after a volcanic eruption?

4. What are the effects of volcanic eruption to people’s lives and livelihood?

5. What are the services do the government could offer to this kind of calamity?

Objectives

 This project aims to deliver information and awareness to reduce problems,

danger and also to help them overcome their fears.

 Be better prepared to recover from a natural calamity

 To promote teaching and training in the field of disaster and emergency

preparedness and to do so, in a way that is comprehensive and interdisciplinary in

its approach.

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 Through this program, we assure them to have fun and forget what had

happened and for them to be ready in case of another explosion as well.

1.3 Scope and Delimitation

This study will focus on the dissemination of information and awareness to the

people affected by the eruption of Taal volcano. It also talks about the experiences and

preparations of the respondents before, during and after the calamity. This paper will only

focus on the calamity at hand. Our respondents were purposively selected through

scanning with the help of some authorities. Anything that are not specified is not included

in the study.

1.4 Significance of the Study

Benefiting the study are the various sectors as follows:

To the government. To allot budget for the relief goods, hygiene kits and shelter in case

of calamities or emergencies for the people.

To the NDRRMC. It will help them utilize the signs of different volcanoes in the

Philippines. And also to provide assistance to the affected community.

To the Prone Areas in Batangas. To give information on how they will act before,

during and after a certain calamity.

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To the Victims and to the Possible Victims. To give awareness and knowledge on how

to prevent loss and deaths to their community or family.

To the Future Researchers. This study will serve as their reference for their new

discoveries.