Howie Severino reflects on 2020's Taal eruption and COVID-19 outbreak

Kapuso broadcast journalist Howie Severino shares his thoughts on the “two disasters of a young 2020,” the Taal eruption that happened in January, and the increasing threat of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Howie began his post by imparting the good news from the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS).

He wrote on March 19, “Today we had some good news for a change: Taal Volcano continues to quiet down. Phivolcs has finally lowered its Alert Level to 1. Remember Taal Volcano? Hard to believe it erupted just over two months ago, upending our corner of Luzon and dominating our time and attention.

He later referred to the Taal eruption as a somewhat prelude to a bigger disaster that was to come.

Howie continued, “Just on the horizon, with hardly anyone thinking about it, was an even bigger disruption, perhaps the biggest one we'll ever experience in our lifetimes. A volcanic eruption that displaced hundreds of thousands was just a rehearsal for an even worse disaster, or the opening act of a catastrophic 2020.”

The Kapuso broadcast journalist then weighed in on the Filipino's bigger adversary.

He related, “A deadly virus in some ways is the opposite of a violent volcano: you cannot see a microbe with the naked eye, only feel its effects. A volcano, on the other hand, especially one as iconic as Taal, is a visually commanding spectacle. I recall retrieving possessions from my house on Taal's lakeshore shortly after it erupted and when it was threatening an even larger cataclysm. I kept glancing at the crater ready to run.

“At least I knew in which direction to escape. How does one escape the coronavirus? It seems to be hiding everywhere. We were told to hole ourselves up at home, not knowing if the virus already lurks in our most intimate quarters, living in a family member or on a surface that wasn't wiped clean. One could flee a volcano. A virus you cannot,” he concluded.

Image Alt Text: Howie Severino reflects on the Taal eruption and COVID-19 outbreak, both disasters that hit the Philippines early this 2020.

Taal relief: Celebrities na nagbigay tulong sa mga apektado ng Taal Volcano eruption

TINGNAN: Pinoy celebrities, pinairal ang bayanihan sa gitna ng COVID-19