Philippine E-Journals

THE BUGKALOT AND THE SAN PUGO FISSURES: DISASTER EXPERIENCE AND RECOVERY AS CULTURAL HISTORY

Naomi Hagi | Rogelio Guinumtad Jr. | Gideon D. Oray | Christian N. Escario | Lauro S. Aspiras

Discipline: Social Science

 

Abstract:

The location makes it vulnerable to typhoons, earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, and other natural hazards. As such, discourses on disaster resilience resurface time and again. While Filipinos have taken pride in their resiliency, recovery is an exigent task that requires the coordinated response not only of the victims of disasters but also the various social agencies. Conceptualized with cultural history, this study thematically analyzed the lived experience of the Bugkalot community during and after the landslides and appearance of ground fissures at Barangay San Pugo, Nagtipunan, Quirino. This study is an attempt at collecting and publishing individual narratives about the disaster from the residents themselves. Through the individual narratives, one can glean at how the residents of Barangay San Pugo dealt with the fears and uncertainties of the situation. This attempt at recalling and memory-making aims to effect and remind readers of our responsibilities in taking a collective stand on disaster awareness and management, particularly when it comes to vulnerable groups such as indigenous people.