Taal Volcano Victims of Barangay Buco Talisay Batangas

Barangay Buco of Talisay, Batangas Philippines sit quietly across the lake from Taal Volcano. The town rely heavily on both agriculture, plantation and tourism sectors as their livelihood.

On January 12, 2020 Taal Volcano spewed ashes, lava rocks and smoke over 9 miles into the air causing an warnings of possible explosive magma eruption triggering an Alert Level 4.

Families from towns within 14 km of Taal Volcano were asked to evacuate and leave their homes due to toxic ashfall. Citizens of Barangay Buco had to collect all they could hold and evacuate their homes and town within hours. Families were separated. Others were stranded in their homes waiting to be rescued as they did not have their own motor vehicle. Amidst the chaos of survival, volcanic earthquakes were still shaking the earth, lava eruption started to flow down the volcano throughout the past couple of days.

Today Taal Volcano is still at Alert Level 4. Fissures have broken down roads connecting towns and all the citizens of Barangay Buco are stranded, homeless and are with families in other towns or in evacuation centers just waiting.

Most of us still have family back home. Most of us have already sent money to them to help them prepare to start their lives all over again. Some of us were born and raised in Barangay Buco. Some of us know it as fond childhood memories that have literally been erased in a matter of days.

This fundraiser is asking for help to gather as much donations that we can to send back to the towns of Barangay Buco directly as well as donate to San Guillermo Church in Talisay. 100% of what is received will be given to the towns directly to help Barangay Buco persevere and rise up again.

Elmer Nava of Barangay Buco will hand deliver the money to the Barangay Buco upon arrival.

Below please see photos of the current status of Barangay Buco Talisay Batangas: