What I Learned From the Mt. Pinatubo Eruption
Way back in 2001, I wrote an essay for school that compared the volcanic eruptions of Mt. Pinatubo to Mt. St. Helens. Mt. Pinatubo is considered one of the more powerful eruptions of the 20th century. When I was living in Angeles City, Philippines, the volcano wasn’t too far away. The main eruption happened on June 15, 1991.
This post will go over three lessons I learned as a result of the volcanic eruption.
I know what it feels like to be involved in a volcanic eruption
As stated earlier, the main eruption happened on June 15, 1991. My brother and I were playing outside when we saw a large mushroom cloud erupt into the sky. We ran inside not knowing what it was.
I had seen nuclear bomb specials on TV before and I thought that’s what the explosion might have been. My mom informed us that it was the volcano erupting.
That sky grew dark quickly as both a volcanic eruption and a typhoon struck at about the same time. The rain soaked the ash and it began to literally rain rocks.
The rain-soaked ash collapsed many structures, including a small part of our house. The night of the major eruption, we had to deal with raining ash, a major typhoon, and non-stop earthquakes.
The next day was fairly sunny. It looked like it had just snowed.
Soon after the eruption, my family and I evacuated to Manila where we awaited our trip back to the United States.
I know what it feels like to be poor
While in the Philippines, my family lived in a fairly nice neighborhood with a nice house. We had a yard boy, a nanny, and a guard dog. We had people cook for us, and had people to buy our groceries.
My family and I arrived around June 22nd, 1991 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Gone were the luxuries we were used to.
My mom was familiar with Las Vegas and decided on this city to live in. My mom had a friend with a small apartment and he allowed us all to stay in it until she could afford her own place. For a month, my brother, my sister, my mom, my mom’s friend, and I, all stayed in a small, one-bedroom apartment.
All of our things in the Philippines had to be shipped over, so we literally only had what was in our suit cases. I was ten at the time and when you are that age, you grow out of clothing fast. As a result, my brother and I would always go to school with bad shoes and clothes that didn’t fit. My mom simply couldn’t afford to buy us clothes but once a year.
My mom could only initially find a job cleaning motel rooms, so her income wasn’t that great. We were eventually able to move into our own place in Vegas, but we had absolutely no furniture and had to sleep on the floor.
It was during this time that my brother and I grew very independent (with our mom always working) and tried to make our own money to buy our own clothes, food, school supplies, and more.
I know what it feels like to be an outsider
When I arrived into the US in 1991, I was in culture shock. I could never quite grasp why stores charged $1.99 for something instead of just $2. Beverly Hills 90-2-10 was now Beverly Hills 90210. Power Rangers were just starting to become hit in the US when my brother and I were exposed to them long ago in the Philippines.
My brother and I wore very “non-US” clothes and weren’t used to the slang. We both loved to play in the dirt, which was a no-no at an apartment complex. My brother and I were exposed for the first time to gang violence and the American school system.
I also marveled at how large a US city really was. In the Philippines, I would always walk around my neighborhood. In Vegas, I was kinda afraid to.
Conclusion
Thank you for reading the things I learned from the Mt. Pinatubo eruption. Feel free to ask me any questions you may have about my experiences in the Philippines.
This post was written as part of a group project for Middle Zone Musings. The topic is: What I Learned From…
Join the Discussion (22 Comments)
Ronald, very good entry for the project! I have lived and traveled many places around the world (not the Philipines, yet), but it was always for a job, and I knew it was temporary. Although I’ve moved my home around the U.S. a few times, I can just barely imagine having to uproot your life and change to a totally new country.
Culture shock can be a real challenge.
Glad you made it! 
Posted on May 3rd, 2007 at 6:46 am
Good times! Made us stronger!
Posted on May 3rd, 2007 at 12:32 pm
Robert,
Thanks for the well wishes. I’ve moved around so many times, I think I’ve lost count. It’s an adventure every time.
Jacob,
That’s right! What happened to you though?
Posted on May 3rd, 2007 at 7:08 pm
Ronald,
Great lessons, eloquently expressed. Thank you so much for sharing them with us. I guess I was lucky that my neighborhood was being built while I was a kid. Always lots of dirt to play in!
Mike
Posted on May 4th, 2007 at 11:39 am
I think I was too young to fully comphrehend what exactly happened on the grand scale of things… I think I kinda just went with the flow and always had the thought that everything would be fine no matter what.. It wasn’t until I was a teenager where I started to see poverty and the neighborhood as being a barrier and I developed a little resentment.. I remember the Phillipines and loved it but I think I was too young to really be like WOW I’m in another country.. I liked Vegas.. Maybe it is because I was born there.. In plus whatever issue’s I did develop from the way I was raised, I have faced them, and moved on.. and am thankful for all the experience’s.. Crazy we were in a Volcanic eruption though! Scary night.. I remember you crying like a little girl all night.. jk
Posted on May 7th, 2007 at 12:08 pm
I have watched programmes about volcanic eruptions on Discovery Channel and National Geographic, but never wondered about the hardships that people face because of these natural disasters. I always used to look at them from a “photographic” opportunity and my wife used to chide for me for watching and enjoying “disasters”. Your post kind-of opened my eyes to the human suffering behind such events. thanks for the post.
Posted on May 7th, 2007 at 12:15 pm
Rajaram,
I love watching disaster shows, so don’t feel bad. Sometimes it gives a greater appreciation of nature. However, I wouldn’t wish a natural disaster on anyone.
Mike,
Yes. I loved dirt when I was younger! My brother and I would hunt and destroy all ants we could find. In the process, we demolished our back yard.
Jacob,
I think that was you crying like a little girl.
Posted on May 7th, 2007 at 7:43 pm
i like ur article, its nice!! keep safe..
Posted on June 17th, 2007 at 11:04 pm
I was in the Navy then and conducted the evacuation of dependants from clark and subic to cebu city. It was insane!
Posted on June 18th, 2007 at 4:26 pm
Mike,
I bet that was crazy. At the time, it was the largest peace-time evacuation ever.
Posted on June 19th, 2007 at 10:08 pm
Posted on September 7th, 2007 at 9:18 pm
:), im doing a research on what really happened during the Mt pinatubo eruption. One fellow said that it was not an ordinary volcano eruption, actually, it was not a volcano at all. It was a bomb, bomb left behind by [americans]…
i dont kow, still doing a research on that.
Posted on September 8th, 2007 at 9:13 am
Posted on November 9th, 2007 at 7:33 am
Yeah I am doing a project in school about Mt.Pinatubo. I was just wanting to ask a few questions.
Posted on December 14th, 2007 at 1:10 pm
Caitlyn,
Sure, just use the info on my contact page to get ahold of me.
http://www.ronalfy.com/contact/
Posted on December 15th, 2007 at 5:06 pm
Hey do you mind if I quote some of this stuff? Im doing a school paper and strugaling for info, e mail me at billoniboy@yahoo.com
Posted on February 1st, 2008 at 10:52 am
I lived stateside and went to the island as a child. My Aunt and Uncle taught on Clark Air Base. (Dr.Parsley) I have to say being there was a real awaking.
I did not want to come back to the States when my time there was up, people had more kindness about them, more culture and cared about each other. I left a few years before the awaking of Pinatubo,and it was heartbreaking to hear what had happened to so many people.
I remember watching Pinatubo from the playground at Clark, I was always fearful of it. For some reason I was not buying into the fact that it was just “sleeping”.
Still today, I carry around memories… great ones–of so many kind people. Part of me will always want to have my life surronded by such wonderful caring people again, and part of me will always remain on CAFB.
You know what I’m talking about!
Posted on March 8th, 2008 at 8:40 pm
Tina »
The only teacher I remember is my brother’s 2nd grade teacher, Mrs. Cavet (not sure if that’s how it’s spelled). I went to a school named Wurtsmith.
I do remember CAFB as the nicest, cleanest place I have ever seen. I have yet to see a place to mimic it. So I have fond memories of CAFB. However, I also have memories of growing up in Angeles City, which was not the nicest, cleanest place I’ve ever seen
Posted on March 14th, 2008 at 12:53 am
Well the Mt. Pinatubo presentation went well, they enjoyed your story the most, thanks for the help, I owe you.
(I got a B pluss)
Posted on March 14th, 2008 at 8:01 pm
i know you felt i was in the manlia and we were having a wedding, my aunt
and we saw our house get meleted
Posted on May 13th, 2008 at 4:24 pm
i was 14 when it happenend
Posted on May 13th, 2008 at 4:26 pm
i also heared that is was the seconed largest volacanic eruption in the twentieth century.
Posted on May 13th, 2008 at 4:28 pm