Rappler's latest stories on Taal eruption people stories
LOOK: Heart Evangelista joins PAWS for animal rescue mission near Taal
The celebrity animal lover brings food and water to dogs and horses affected by the Taal Volcano eruption
Through his own lens: Albert Garcia gets up close with Pinatubo, Taal
Rappler talks to award-winning photojournalist Albert Garcia about covering the eruptions of Mount Pinatubo and Taal Volcano
WATCH: Evacuated Phivolcs scientists continue to keep Filipinos safe
Taal Volcano's eruption forces Phivolcs scientists to evacuate from their observatory in Talisay, Batangas. But they've never stopped working.
In Talisay, desperate residents beg on the street for money, water
Talisay Mayor Gerry Natanauan says the municipal government cannot just stop the people from begging, as it is an 'opportunity' calamity victims tend to resort to
WATCH: Cavite coffee farmers struggle to rise from the ashes
Ashfall from Taal Volcano destroys hectares of coffee trees in Amadeo, Cavite
WATCH: Dog from Taal Volcano Island looking for forever home
Lyka, a 7-year-old dog, and over a hundred other rescued dogs from Taal Volcano Island are looking for loving and patient owners
WATCH: Broken hearts as Agoncillo residents return to ruined homes
With no homes and no jobs, the poorest residents get dragged down further below the poverty line after the eruption of Taal Volcano
WATCH: Police uphold duty to others, even while affected by Taal Volcano's eruption
'Everybody is a victim dito sa volcanic eruption na 'to eh. Pero 'yun nga lang pinagkaiba ng pulis natin is they signed up para maglingkod,' says Talisay police chief Aldrin Jay Baysa
Two-time Taal eruption survivor: Access to information saved lives in 2020
'May alam ang mga tao sa sitwasyon ng bulkan so hindi sila nagpapanic. Nalaman agad nila kung ano ang gagawin, hindi katulad noong dati na wala talaga,' says Vivencio Manguiat, a survivor of the 1965 Taal Volcano eruption
IN PHOTOS: Despite remaining threat, Taal evacuees simply happy to be home
But once the volcano shows signs of imminent explosion, residents say they'll pack their belongings and will be ready to evacuate again
Despite reopening of town, Agoncillo residents remain in evacuation centers
Agoncillo Mayor Daniel Reyes says ashfall from Taal Volcano damaged many houses in his town, so residents are unable to return even if they're already allowed to
Some Batangas residents return home as Taal Volcano eases
'Tuwang-tuwa po ang aming mga kababayan,' says a resident of Taal town, as they get breathing room following the downgrading of Taal Volcano to Alert Level 3
Traumatized Taal survivor wants to relocate, if given the chance
'Gusto ko lang sabihin sa gobyerno na sana matulungan 'nyo kami sa karamihan ng tao doon na nawalan ng hanapbuhay at bahay at walang babalikan'
WATCH: Volunteers serve hot meals to Taal Volcano evacuees
Adding a human touch to food relief – a warm, freshly cooked meal instead of sardines in a can – goes a long way to uplift evacuees' spirits, volunteers say
WATCH: A Taal Volcano evacuee despairs after husband dies from stroke
Still grieving the loss of her eldest child, Jocelyn Salvia loses her husband Elmer to a stroke. He had been busy distributing relief goods to their fellow evacuees, even as he looked after his own family's welfare.
Taal survivor recalls evacuating ailing father, deaf mute daughter
'First time kong na experience ito at hindi ko alam ang gagawin,' says 39-year-old Rowena Balina
WATCH: Taal evacuees cry for help as House holds 'symbolic' session in Batangas
The House of Representatives holds its plenary session in Batangas City, which sits just outside the danger zone of the restive Taal Volcano
WATCH: Batangas resort takes in evacuees amid Taal Volcano eruption
This Batangas resort takes in residents looking for shelter after the Taal Volcano started erupting
Funeral home waives fees for dad who died amid Taal eruption
The eldest daughter of Antonio Baleros says a good samaritan spoke with Filipinas Funeral Homes to waive their remaining balance of P45,500
Teary-eyed evacuees' appeal: Allow us to fish in Taal Lake again
Agoncillo Mayor Daniel Reyes tells lawmakers that Batangueños also need psychological interventions to help them process trauma from the Taal Volcano eruption
WATCH: Anxious villagers plead against lockdown of areas near Taal Volcano
Residents of lakeside villages in Tanauan City, Batangas, are pleading to be allowed to visit their homes, after the government completely closed off the immediate danger zone around Taal Volcano
WATCH: Evacuees getting anxious a week since they fled homes near Taal Volcano
Evacuees are thankful for the help they are receiving but are worried for their long-term future, with the volcano threatening to destroy their homes and properties
WATCH: Taal Volcano eruption hits small vendors hard
In a city that is dependent on tourism, vendors and small businessmen are the hardest hit during a disaster
WATCH: ‘We will rise from the ashes’
The Redemptorist Shrine in Lipa City is not your average evacuation center. Rappler’s Charles Salazar captures why in this video
Lipa school aims to provide sense of normalcy, dignity to Taal evacuees
'We treat them as guests here, not as evacuees,' says De La Salle Lipa President Brother Dante Amisola
Groups lead activities to help Taal eruption evacuees recover from trauma
Hoping to help them cope, groups initiate psychological first aid, fun performances, reading and writing exercises and games to evacuees
WATCH: Taal evacuees rummage for clothes that fit
Finding the right clothes in distribution centers becomes some sort of a treasure hunt for evacuees who only brought their essentials when they fled their communities
Lost and damaged: Taal Volcano steals livelihoods
Fishermen, coffee growers, and more lose their sources of income as Taal Volcano erupts
WATCH: Life inside an evacuation center amid Taal Volcano’s unrest
Evacuees value their properties and their animals. But nothing, they emphasize, is as valuable as life.
WATCH: Taal Volcano evacuees arrive in Dasmariñas, Cavite
Cavite province takes in some 15,000 evacuees from neighboring Batangas, and allots P15 million in calamity funds to assist them
IN PHOTOS: 'We will rise'
In Agoncillo, Batangas, large fissures caused by the Taal Volcano eruption ruin houses and establishments
Residents evacuated from Taal Volcano danger zone still live in fear
Apart from the imminent eruption and the constant earthquakes, displaced residents also fear about what comes after this calamity
‘Lubog na lahat’: Calawit residents return to crushed homes
Some residents of Barrio Calawit in San Nicolas, Batangas, return home using their boats, without the knowledge of authorities, to check on their livestock
Vendors brave imminent Taal Volcano eruption to sell the last of their goods
The vendors deem it safe to continue selling their goods, but will flee at the next sign of danger
WATCH: Couple helps motorists as Taal Volcano spews ash
Despite the power outage in Tagaytay City which affected their water supply, the De Velas lend a helping hand
