by Jamila Apolinario
“We face tragedy with a smile on our faces, not because we are happy but because this is the only way we can be strong.” Katrina Carlos, Seneca Student have uncles and aunts who were affected by the ashfall.
The Taal Volcano is one of the Philippine’s most active volcano says The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS). it is in the province of Batangas in just 60 km (60 miles) south of the capital Manila on the island of Luzon.
With its unique appearance, Taal Volcano in Batangas became one of the best tourist destinations in the Philippines, and two weeks after the new years eve the unthinkable happened. After four decades of being dormant, the small volcano showed its wrath to the world. January 12, 2020,
Despite its beauty and height, Taal Volcano is considered one of the most dangerous volcanoes, because nearly one million people live within its danger zone. The volcano is only 300 meters tall but when it is active it can damage up to 17km (10.5 miles) in radius.
Batangeños uses umbrellas to shed them from the mixture of rain and ash as they look on Taal spewing more ash, January 12, 2020, Talisay, Philippines. Ezra Acayan/Getty Images
The eruption has cost 300,000 people to evacuate their homes. The thick black mixture of ash and rainwater blanketed almost everything within the danger zone, the mixture caused some roofs to collapsed.
A jeep full of residents passes along the road covered with ash as they try to flee away from their homes in Lemery, Philippines. January 13, 2020. Aaron Favilla/AP\
The eruption endangered the lives of the people as well as the livestock. Many of the evacuees left nothing but what they have when they left.
Horses and other animals were buried alive in the volcanic ash. CNN
Many families from Batangas and Cavite lost their homes and livelihood when the Taal volcano erupted. Only 30 out of 3,000 horses were rescued from the volcano island. The horses are used as a lift to go to the crater of the volcano. But when it suddenly erupts the residents had no other choice but save their lives first.
Filipino-Canadians was also saddened when they heard about what happened in their homeland. The Filipino Students’ Association in York(FSAY) and Filipino Canadian Students’ Association together with other Filipino Organizations in Canada started fundraising to help the victims of Taal Volcano.
Francis Calingo, Vice president for internal of FilCaSA says that they put together a concert for a cause to help the survivors of Taal. He also says that even Filipinos are here in Canada can still share their love and donation while enjoying the music.
Crater glow observed at the summit of Mayon Volcano in Albay, Philippines 450km (250mi) east of Taal Volcano. ABS-CBN
After two weeks of implementing alert level 4 on Taal, PHIVOLCS raised to level 2 warning for another volcano 473km (293mi) South West of Manila. The perfect cone-shaped volcano is still under observation but reminded the public about the possibility of an explosion that can occur without warning that could endanger the lives of people living within the upper to middle slopes of Mayon.
The Midnight Road 