Paper short abstract:

Living under the constant threat of the Philippines’ most active volcano, residents around Mayon have consistently responded with religious rituals to the dangers of a volcanic eruption. The major disasters in 1814, 1993, 2006 prove this persistent religious witness of a geological phenomenon.

Paper long abstract:

Mayon volcano in the Philippines is renowned for its symmetrical beauty. Despite its natural grandeur, it nevertheless poses a constant risk to the residents, being one of the world’s most active volcanoes. More than 30 eruptions have been recorded since the first written account in 1616, spewing out ash and burning rocks. Despite a government-designated permanent danger zone, farmers continue to live within this periphery due to the highly fertile volcanic soil.

The greatest destruction occurred in 1814 when an entire town was buried and an estimated 1,200 residents died. The eruption in 1993 became controversial because of the prediction of a “big bang” by volcanologists which fortunately was a dud. In 2006, no eruption occurred but the volcano caused a major disaster when a violent typhoon unleashed the lahar deposited on its slopes, resulting in a massive mudslide in the surrounding towns. Combined with the flooding caused by the typhoon, the disaster approached 1814 in its impact: a small community was wiped out and the death count topped 1,000 people.

In these three historically distant events in 1814, 1993, 2006, the people’s behavior nevertheless mirrored an unchanging cultural response that was essentially spiritual. Responding with religious rituals to the constant danger of living in the shadow of a deadly volcano will be discussed from the historical perspective of the people’s understanding of their natural surroundings in the light of their faith.