We spent the long weekend in Tagaytay in a house that overlooks Taal Lake and Taal Volcano. At the time I made arrangements to occupy the house, we didn’t know that the volcano was on alert status. We didn’t cancel the trip — Tagaytay is far enough from the volcano and there is no serious threat (in fact, the Tagaytay local government has offered the city as an evacuation site) — but got excited all the more as we hoped we could catch some of the volcano’s action on camera.
Okay, that may sound a little twisted. There are people who live on Volcano Island, and they are exposed to danger, and the situation is such that the DepEd has suspended the opening of classes in the island. But can that be more twisted than the bullishness of people who refuse to vacate the island despite the alert level? And if that doesn’t sound strange enough, tourists are coming in droves and are renting bancas (outrigger boats) to go to the island despite the ban after the alert was raised. The government says it will slap penalties on resort and boat operators who violate the ban. I think penalties should be slapped on the hard-headed tourists too.
Anyway, for those unfamiliar with Taal Volcano, I labeled the island and its vicinity in the photo above.
1 – Binintiang Malaki (large leg), the active cone until the mid-1700s.
2 – Volcano Island at the center of which is a sulfuric lake. The site of the sulfuric lake was the active cone from the latter part of the 1700s until 1965.
3 – The active cone which showed wisps of smoke that couldn’t be captured well on camera because of the mists.
4 – Mount Macolot in Cuenca, Batangas, a popular mountaineering site. My daughters went hiking up Macolot a couple of years ago as part of a high school field trip.
Ms. Connie, I think that you can include my mom in the hard-headed tourists. Hehe. She told us (proudly at that!) that when she was single and the volcano was about to explode, she and her friends went there to watch. I don’t know what it is with us Filipinos but we like to put ourselves in danger. It makes me remember the stories during the Gulf War when instead of seeking shelter, the Filipinos watched the missiles. Hay, tayo talagang Pinoy!
LOL I’d rather watch the volcano from safe distance. Missiles? Naku, I’d rather hide or flee hahaha
hi connie! may i know where you stayed in tagaytay? is this where the photos were taken? it’s got a nice view of the volcano. or probably it’s the photographer’s eye that captured it.
thanks.
I’m doing a complete write-up with all the details and lots of photos. Stay tuned.
I never thought I’d live long enough to see some major activity from Taal Volcano. Now, with my newborn daughter had just arrived, I’m a bit worried because we live in Silang, which is right next to Tagaytay City.
Hopefully, if Taal does erupt, it would not be a tragic natural disaster.
I think you’re far enough although you may get ash fall if the eruption is a major one. It’s San Nicolas, Talisay, Bañagao, Subic, Agoncillo and all the other towns on the shore of Taal Lake that are more in danger.
Excellent shot! Gorgeous view. Ahhhh!. I miss the place.
oh gosh we are living in Mataasnakahoy batangas we are near also in taal lake and taal volcano. Oh! I hope it would not erupt. I can’t imagine.
This is a very pretty picture, can I know where this is? I’m getting married soon, and this is very very nice view:)
Click here.
very nice picture ! I am from batangas
whew I never really knew it that was mt. Makulot or Macolot.. The elderlies always frightened us that if we don’t take care of the critters in our hair..they will fly us off to makulot..hahah…oh memories 
My lola said the ashes reached Sta. Teresita Batangas way back when it exploded…..