Authorities continue to keep an eye on Taal Volcano four years after it erupted on January 12, 2020, an event that affected 71,717 families or 282,021 individuals in CALABARAZON.

At least 39 people died with one reported case directly caused by the eruption

Four years later, the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office (PDRRMO) in Batangas continues to keep a strict watch over the Taal Volcano Island, restricting access for safety reasons.

"We are on 24/7 monitoring kasi nga medyo nag-erratic ang pagtaas ng metro ng pagbuga ng usok, at 'yun ang dapat nating isaalang-alang ngayon," Dr. Amor Calayan, Head of PDRRMO Batangas, said.

Former residents of the area like Gemmalyn Basilio had to flee their home when the volcano erupted in 2020. The powerful tremors that led to the eruption convinced her never to return. 

"May naramdaman kami [na] napakalas na yanig tapos sabay 'yung pag-ugong sa ilalim ng lupa… 'yun na pala po ['yung eruption]," she said.

Her family now resides at a housing project in Ibaan with over 500 other families.

"Edi tulong-tulong kami [na] mag-asawa sa pagtitinda rito. Nagko-construction ako [at] nagta-tricycle ako," Romeo Basilio, Gemmalyn's husband, said.

The eruption in 2020 brought back memories of the last time the Taal volcano erupted in 1965. 

Decades have passed but memories from 1965 remain vivid for Anite Diamante, 75, a resident of barangay Halang in Lipa City. She recalls seeing intense brightness and rocks falling and hearing a deafening explosion. 

"Ang liwanag at [may] mga bato talaga, boga kung tawagin, talagang pumapatak dito sa amin... 'yung aming lolo hindi sila mapakali," Diamante said.

Her fear was reawakened in 2020.

"Sabi ko, tawag na lang [tayo] sa taas, 'Diyos ko, kami po naman eh huwag ninyong pababayaan,' ako'y kinikilabutan... ang mga tao hindi magkaintidihan sa pag-eempake," she said.

Dolly Gene Garcia, a resident accustomed to Taal's tantrums for over three decades, faced the 2020 eruption with a sense of familiarity. 

For her, evacuating and returning when it's safe has become part of the system.

"Kapag nag-ano [erupt na] siya, kami rin 'yung ano—aalis na kami tapos babalik kapag okay na [ang bulkan]," she said.