Whenever the subject of travel to or residing in the Philippines comes into conversation, it’s inevitable that the topic will turn to safety, perhaps even focus there. So, what is it about safety that warrants so much attention? Well, the first thing that people say is terrorism, or crime. Are those a concern? Hey, I feel that no matter where you go in the world today, terrorism is something to consider! I do not feel that terrorism is any more of an issue in the Philippines compared to New York, Madrid or London.
There is an issue, though, that I believe should be considered when it comes to safety, actually, I think there are two related issues to consider. What are they?
- Earthquakes
- Volcanoes
Why are these issues so important? Well, remember that the Philippines sits right on top of the “Ring of Fire” that basically encircles the Pacific Ocean. This ring of fire is an area where seismic activity is very common, even likely. The map at left shows the Philippines. The darker red you see, the more likely a serious earthquake is. The area where I live is the second most dangerous when it comes to earthquakes.
Have there been serious quakes in the Philippines in recent history? You better believe that there have been! Let’s have a look at some significant events that have occurred:
- In 2004 there was a 6.5 magnitude quake in Mindoro.
- In 2003 there was a 6.5 magnitude quake in Samar.
- In 2002 there was a 7.5 magnitude quake here in Mindanao, resulting in 15 deaths.
- In 2001 there was a 7.5 magnitude quake here in Mindanao.
- In 1990 there was a 7.7 magnitude quake in Luzon, resulting in 1,621 deaths.
- In 1976 there was a 7.9 magnitude quake in Mindanao, resulting in 8,000 deaths.
Those are some serious events! During the 7.5 event in Mindanao in 2001, I experienced it! The quake happened at around 5am local time, and we were shook out of bed. Honestly, I thought I was going to die that day, it was that strong. After the quake, I drove around town to survey the damage, and a number of buildings fell, fences collapsed and such. It was a serious quake.
How about you, have you planned for this contingency if you decide to move here? It is something to take seriously. You and your family should probably have a plan together for what to do when an earthquake strikes.
How regular are earthquakes here? Well, here in Davao, I guess that I feel a quake at least once per month on average. There are many quakes that pass without being felt too.
I’ll have a look at volcanoes soon! That is perhaps an even bigger threat than earthquakes here in the Philippines!
When I was in the US I was a member of a group of "preppers". Always we prepare for what could happen, natural disasters, weather, terrorist activity, whatever. 2 of the best things you can do is have food and water always on hand, and have a Bug Out Bag for each member o the family. Can food is relatively inexpensive here and just buying a few more than you need and putting those away are a good idea. If you have a water dispenser keep a few more carboys of water than what you normally use in a week and rotate them with the new ones. My water delivery is through Auqa Fill and it costs me 60P a carboy (5Gal). Bug Out Bags are a little more complicated, if you want Bob I can write a full article about them and you can post it here on the blog.
I totally agree with Louis with canned goods. I think it's like preparing for weather calamities. However, this kind of prep, most of times, we took them for granted since they seldom happen.
This is also reminds me an incident when my husband visited Gensan (General Santos) in late 90's, and there's an earthquake – maybe between 3-5 richter scale, though not major, but we did feel it. Boy, it did scare him alright. Because of earthquake, that you can't convince him to move to California also.
I usually tell him about what's going on in this blog, but for this one, I'll skip it. 🙂
Hi Bob:
we had drills in schools on what to do encase the volcano erupts in the island. Starting in the late 80's I think, schools at all levels were having fire, earthquake and terrorist attack drills.
My grandparents, parents and their siblings went through a lot of difficulties when the volcano erupted. Thank God, I was not born at that time yet. There was a time when the barrio folks had to take turns keeping watch, maybe to help the lone volcanologist spread the word since the volcano was unusually "restless". There was no cellphone at that time. I saw my parents broke our piggy banks and my sister and I were assigned each to carry a bulk of clothing wrapped in a blanket encase we had to evacuate. Backpacks and travelling bags with rollers were not style back then. I saw the fear in my mother's eyes but that was no match to the day when martial law was declared in the Phils! Since we had no vehicle, we were instructed to make shortcuts of ways and follow the evacuees, etc, etc. Up to now, when I heard of earthquakes in the Phils I am nervous especially that my parents and relatives are still in the island. We just have to trust God. I believe that safety is not due to the absence of danger but in the presence of the Lord, although there's nothing wrong to have a sense of preparedness and contingency plans.
Thanks for sharing the stats.
My father in Law was in Luzon on a job when Mt Pinatumbo erupted. Boy was that a calamity. I've always been of the "boy scout" type… always prepared. Right now I feel naked because I'm not of the level of preparadedness that I was back in the states. I think back there I had enough food and water to sustain 4 people for 4 months. I could build a fallout shelter in less than an hour and had all the radiological equipment, radios, and everything. I was always ready to go at a moments notice. Here in the Phil I highly doubt we will ever see a nuclear bomb, but the natural calamities are enough. I never felt an EQ until I moved here and I can't say it's my favourite thing in the world. In my lifetime I have survived:
5 hurricanes
3 tornadoes
1 civil disturbance
I was in Washington during 9/11
I did volunteer work in the gulf states after Katrina
Guess that makes me a survivor?
Hi Bob,
This is one of the reasons why I don't want to live in a high-rise condo, especially in the Philippines. I would be more concerned about tsunamis. People tell me this shouldn't be a concern in Davao City because it is located in a gulf. I'm not too sure about that, though. Have you looked into this, Bob?
BTW, we were on a Samal beach when the 2004 tsunami happened. Very eerie…
Though it may sound flippant, this advice is serious:
If you pack or store canned foods, remember to have implements available to open them (non-electric can openers, knives, etc.).
Having been involved with disaster preparedness in the service, I can't begin to tell you how many people remember the big items only to forget the little items. I never go anywhere without my P-38 – sometimes called a "John Wayne" – a very small can opener that came with canned rations in the days before MREs!
Tina – It's not the gulf that protects Davao, it's Samal Island. The Island acts like a natural breakwater to deflect oncoming waves.
Nope. Never worried about natural calamities in Davao. Earthquakes are the most likely risk there but it's such a regular thing growing up that it never really worried me. My schools did help educate us on what to do when a big one happens (especially after the Baguio quake) and that is a good thing.
SF Bay Area quakes are so hyped up but I felt more tremors in Davao in a year than in 8 years in SF.
The lack of major infrastructures in Davao (comparably speaking to a major modern city) may lessen the damages, but I'd keep an eye out on the many wooden houses and buildings. Uyanguren used to have so many and the shanties in Agdao or bangkerohan are serious fire hazards.
Typhoons, storms. Not an issue in Davao. I had never experienced a storm until moving to the US. That's a point of pride for me as a Dabawenyo. I love the look of surprise from other Filipinos (especially Manilenyos) when I say this.
Terrorism? The Philippines is not the most stable country but driving through the Bay Bridge is more likely a bigger risk than walking the streets of Davao. I've always felt safer in Davao. No, really.
Tina – I would not worry about tsunamis. Louis is right. Samal's got our back. There were reports of it in Davao del Sur but these were isolated cases and I have a hunch you won't be living in these distant locales when in town.
Volcanoes…hmm. It's not talked about. Mt Apo is considered a dead one and a non-risk. But I've climbed up that mountain twice (beautiful by the way) and there are boiling lakes and active sulfur vents up there. I don't know the science of these things but I'd like to know the risk factor — especially coming from the tallest peak right beside my hometown.
I talked with a friend of mine and did some reaserch about mt Apo, it's not a dead volcano per-se, but it has not erupted in recorded history. The presence of suphor vents and boiling lakes means there's magma there. It's one of those things like Yellowstone in the US, it may blowup at some point, but probably not in our lifetimes. I have a beautiful view of Mt Apo from my bedroom balcony, I love watching the clouds form on the peak in the afternoon.
Oh I forgot to add, I hear quite a bit of electricity is generated from Geothermal plants, yes Mt Apo is very much alive just lost in a long slumber… shhhh don't wake him up 🙂
Hey Louis,
I bet you have a great view and I'm quite jealous (my parking lot view probably ranks a distant second). But you may even like it better from up there. I certainly recommend a trek up when you get the chance. The sunrise view over the gulf and multiple cities is amazing.
Macky
Glad to hear you have done the Apo treck and it was worth it, i am going to do that one next year, don't know who my (un?) lucky guide is yet, hey maybe you? are you there sometime next year i will wait for you if you can make it…………..i am really looking forward to it, should be fantastic, i am jealous you have done it twice
Hi Bob – I was in CDO during the 1976 earthquake. It happened in the middle of the night. It was scary (pots and pans were flying all over the kitchen and some crockery were broken). The whole house was shaking – I thought the bedroom furniture and mirror were going to fall on me. Classes were cancelled for 2 days because of several aftershocks. It was worst in the little islands and the southwest of Mindanao because of the tidal wave that followed.
The thing about earthquakes is that it just happens – there's no warning like they do for hurricanes and typhoons where people are warned to brace themselves, move upland or stay indoors because there's going to be an earthquake the next day or in a few hours time or so.
Just in case though, having an emergency box in the house with flashlights, batteries, candles, matches, first aid kits, bottled water, canned goods, tinned biscuits, etc wouldn't go wrong.
Oh! I almost forgot – candies and a swiss army knife too!
Greetings and good morning everyone!
I think preparedness for supplies is only as good as preparedness to always have the presence of mind when actual disaster strikes. Acquainting ourselves from time to time with where our emergency kit or supplies are, where the candles, matches, flashlights are kept, etc., is critical.
I had all these in the house. But when the 7.2 (or probably greater than this) Loma Prieta earthquake hit SF and the greater Bay Area, and we were plunged into darkness, I forgot all about the supplies! Having no lights and not familiar with where my kits were kept anymore, I grabbed instinctively what I thought was critical to my survival and ran outside.
Then I realized I didn't have my car keys and I could not remember where I had placed them earlier. It seemed my mind shut down totally… So I could not leave either!
Wanting to find comfort in some signs of life elsewhere, I sat at the curb for well over an hour. I watched cars slowly driving by. The cars and seeing people in them and the car lights somehow comforted me. The thought of walking back into the pitch black house with no one else there paralyzed me. I knew a lot of things were broken inside and I would have had to grope in total darkness. So I sat longer at the curb. And longer, and longer…
When I collected my thoughts a little bit, I looked at the only possession I grabbed — my briefcase!!! There I was, a lonesome figure, briefcase close to my side, mulling over what just happened…
Occasionally I look back fleetingly to that moment. It was an epiphany. The things that we do instinctively are sometimes what reveals our core. My briefcase??? Was that my most important possession?
Now I'm past that stage, I've divested myself of many things that are just shallow indications of my "being" — I am more complete, I am at peace and I am happy.
Loma Prieto woke me up to what's more important in life. That really started me on my still ongoing journey.
Greetings and good morning everyone!
I think preparedness for supplies is only as good as preparedness to always have the presence of mind when actual disaster strikes. Acquainting ourselves from time to time with where our emergency kit or supplies are, where the candles, matches, flashlights are kept, etc., is critical.
I had all these in the house. But when the 7.2 (or probably greater than this) Loma Prieta earthquake hit SF and the greater Bay Area, and we were plunged into darkness, I forgot all about the supplies! Having no lights and not familiar with where my kits were kept anymore, I grabbed instinctively what I thought was critical to my survival and ran outside.
Then I realized I didn't have my car keys and I could not remember where I had placed them earlier. It seemed my mind shut down totally… So I could not leave either!
I wanted to find comfort in some signs of life elsewhere, so I sat at the curb for well over an hour. I watched cars slowly driving by. The cars and seeing people in them and the car lights somehow comforted me. The thought of walking back into the pitch black house with no one else there paralyzed me. I knew a lot of things were broken inside and I would have had to grope in total darkness. So I sat longer at the curb. And longer, and longer…
When I collected my thoughts a little bit, I looked at the only possession I grabbed — my briefcase!!! There I was, a lonesome figure, briefcase close to my side, mulling over what just happened…
Occasionally I look back fleetingly to that moment. It was an epiphany. The things that we do instinctively are sometimes what reveals our core. My briefcase??? Was that my most important possession?
Now I'm past that stage, I've divested myself of many things that are just shallow indications of my "being" — I am more complete, I am at peace and I am happy.
Loma Prieto woke me up to what's more important in life. That really started me on my still ongoing journey.
Hello Everyone,
Late last year I’ve seen the documentary film “An Inconvenient Truth” presented by Al Gore. I believe in what Al Gore had said in this film that “Global Warning” is what we have to worry about more than ‘Terrorism’. I’m not trying to scare anybody here but climate change that we are currently experiencing reveals the fact that we are all in trouble no matter where you are. There are still some things we can do to minimize destruction “Not IF” but “When” natural calamities to happen. Damage is done to nature and without any doubt there’s a price we have to pay.
Hi Teng – The whole global warming scenario is not yet a matter of scientific fact. Did you know that around half of scientists worldwide disagree with Gore's theory? For me, it's phoney baloney. That's all I'll say about it.
Hi Bob,
No, I didn't know that around half of scientists worldwide disagree with Gore's theory. I know that there are criticisms (mostly scientist) about it but don't know the statistics. Appreciate if you could give me a link of that statistics.
Thanks.
Hi Teng – How about this?
Hi Bob,
Thank u for giving me that link but can't find the statistics (scientists who disagree) of Al Gore's "An Inconvenient Truth" critics.
In my opinion, Global Warning is a thing that we should not take for granted.
Hi Teng – You're right, they don't include a list of scientists that disagree. I am curious, can you provide a definitive list of scientists who do agree? Just curious.
Hi Bob,
Sorry, I don't have a definitive list of those scientists who agree. I might 'google' it later when I have time.
Hi Rick,
I just noticed your post #12 and wanted to thank you for that invite up Apo. I've always wanted to go up again but my haven't found the time yet. I won't be travelling back to the Philippines next year but you should still try the hike. Try to avoid the Holy Week trek. The trails get packed and crowded. The Kidapawan trail is the easiest but the Davao/Calinan trail have the best views. Good Luck, Rick.
Hi Bob & Teng,
I'm staying clear of the Global Warming discussion but it sure was tempting 😆
Hi Bob
A thought just struck me while reading about volcanoes here, has anyone ever thought about using them for disposal purposes. I mean you could drop a lot of dangerous materials down there instead of stockpiling them posing health and safety risks to humans. Just a passing thought.
Post #25. Use them like incinerators? Sounds brilliant to me! I think the idea is worth exploring…
Hi Jack,
That's an interesting thought but I doubt if it would work in the Philippines even if the science made sense. A lot of the mountains or volcanoes in the country are regarded as deities by the local indigenous tribes.
Mindanao's Mt Apo for example (the highest peak) is considered kingdom of the deity "Apo Sandawa", while Luzon's Mt Mayon is the enclave of another tribe's deity "Gugurang". I wouldn't be surprised if every peak is a sacred symbol to the numerous tribes in the country.
It would be a major issue for the local tribes to have the mountain as a dumping ground. The recently built ( in 1990s) geothermal plant in the mountain is still considered controversial to this day.
Hi Macky – I don't know your position on Global Warming, but I would expect that it's different than mine! 🙄 Seriously, though, I didn't really care to respond to that on the blog, but I felt compelled to do so, since leaving it unchallenged would tend to say that I, as the owner of the site, agree, which I don't.
Anyway, Teng – I just want to say that just because there is an issue that we don't agree on, it doesn't mean that we can't be friends. I mean, after all, just 30 years ago they were saying that we are entering the next ice age! So, really it's too early to say definitively on either side about Global Warming.
Hi Jack – That sounds like a pretty cool idea! I have never thought of that before! Of course, being a lay person, I don't have any idea about the science of such, but it certainly sounds feasible to me!
Hi Bob,
What I've noticed since the beginning of this site is that you are very good at handling and respecting differing viewpoints, even on those that you do not agree on. I even mentioned to my wife that I really respect how you balance all the varying points here. I must commend you for that.
Based on experience here, I know joining a hot issue like GW would once again veer off course from the main topic. But I already know that if I do disagree with you, a fair discussion is always expected and nothing is taken personally. A great example for other readers and blogposters.
oh great, I think I really did stray off course here. 😳
Hi Macky – Thank you for your kind words. I do try to be able to disagree without being disagreeable! That's what can lead to a good discussion, after all. I appreciate what you said about that.
Hi Macky
Thanks for that information, I didn't know about the mountains being sacred with the Tribes, very interesting.
Hi Bob and Angie
Macky has a point but maybe another country could ponder it.
Hi Bob,
I’m back on this site again.:grin:
Well, I think I’m a level-minded person Bob. I could not just discard someone because he/she opposes/criticizes me of what I say or do. If there’s a yardstick that measures friendship I would consider a person who opposes/criticizes constructively… a true friend. In that manner it gives me an impression that he/she cares.
As we are talking about preparedness or contingency plan for any natural disaster that might strike us, I was just trying to point out that “Global Warming” could be one of them. I cannot blame you Bob if you are skeptical about it. I’m not either persuading anybody to believe about it. It is our personal decision whether just to ignore or to recognize all these theories about ‘Global Warning’ (one of the theories I mentioned earlier was “An Inconvenient Truth” of Al Gore). As for me, I made myself aware about it and it does not impede my daily undertakings but gradually give me more and more understanding on what’s happening to our environment and the importance preservation & conservation.
Peace.:wink:
Hi Teng – Yes, we all can view each topic and make our own decision. How we decide is a personal choice, and is up to each of us to decide.
Peace to you also!
Hello All,
Just wanted to share this article with you all. Not looking to argue with anyone but thought it would be something to think about…
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/20645362/