The Philippines: Land of Earthquakes and Volcanoes

MOD Filipina Vol. 24 Nos. 1048, 1049 & 1050, October 4, 11 and 18, 1991
On the covers: (From left to right) Alma Concepcion,
Jeanette Chavez Ipapo, and Bernadette Cruz

          In the middle of 1991, just after Mt. Pinatubo’s eruption, broadcast journalist Lito Villarosa began a series of exposé regarding the controversial Marikina Valley Fault System. According to Villarosa, he saw a bunch of documents in the defunct Ministry of Human Settlement on its way to the junk bin. When he tried to read the contents, it turned out to be a 1976 commissioned report of the United Nations Disaster Relief Organization (UNDRO) Coordinator to the former Ministry of Human Settlement headed by then First Lady Imelda R. Marcos, detailing a systematic vulnerability analysis of Metro Manila area with regard to disasters like earthquake and flood. There was also a comprehensive study regarding the Marikina Valley Fault System. To cut the story short, he gave me a copy of this report, which was very interesting to me because it is related to my profession as a structural engineer – knowing areas where earthquake damage can be prominent is an important part of structural design.

          Together, we conducted extensive research on the subject and simultaneously revealed to the public what we have uncovered: Villarosa through the broadcast media and me through the pages of MOD Filipina magazine as an exclusive three-part special report titled The Philippines Land of Earthquakes and Volcanoes  (SEE the posted version in https://erneelawagan.blogspot.com/2009/09/philippines-land-of-earthquakes-and.html).

          Exactly a year after, the article won for me the grand prize in the Second Annual Science and Technology JournalismAward sponsored by the Philippine Press Institute and the Philippine Geothermal Inc (SEE the story featured in MOD November 13, 1992 issue).

Part I – A Study of Our Restless Terrain

 

 

Part II – The Marikina Fault System: The Truth

Conclusion – The Marikina Fault System: The Consequences

“And in that hour a great earthquake occurred, and a tenth of the city fell; and seven thousand persons were killed by the earthquake, and the rest became frightened and gave glory to GOD of heaven.” – Revelation 11:13, New World Translation of the Holy Scriptures.

October 18




OCTOBER 18

MOD Filipina Vol. 24 No. 1050, October 18, 1991
On the Cover: Bernadette Cruz

 

Oktubre 18 sa Kasaysayan ng Pilipinas

          Noong Oktubre 18, 1975, sa pamamagitan ng Presidential Decree 812, binigyan ng kapamahalaan ng “legal deposit” ang National Library. Ito ay isang alituntunin sa batas na ang bawat maglilimbag, manunulat o may-akda ng isang aklat o babasahin na magbigay ng sipi sa pambansang aklatan bilang repository.

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GLIMPSE FROM THE PAST

An illustrative portrait of Marlene Dietrich (1901-1992)
on the cover of vintage Screen Book Magazine (October 1936).

 

Personalities and celebrities born on October 18:

1922 – Ruben Tagalog, actor, musician, Kundiman proponent, first to popularize the Christmas song “Ang Pasko ay Sumapit” (originally a Visayan Christmas carol Kasadya Ning Taknaa) ang considered as the “King of Kundiman” – in Lapaz, Iloilo (d. March 5, 1989).

Ruben Tagalog, the “King of Kundiman.”

1931 – Prospero S. Amatong, politician – in Dipolog, Zamboanga del Norte (d. May 16, 2009).

1949 – Lucas P. Bersamin, lawyer and jurist – in Bangued, Abra.

1949 – Eduardo V. Roquero, physician and politician – in Pigkawayan, North Cotobato (d. August 24, 2009).

1977 – Aristotle Pollisco, musician and rap artist known as Gloc-9

1983 – Deo Angelo “Railey” Valeroso, actor and TV host.

Railey Valeroso (with Chynna Ortaleza)
on the cover of Mr. & Ms. (September 14, 2004)



 



The 19-year-old June Wilkinson on the cover
of Pose! (October 1959).

Picture Trivia

          The English actress and model, June Wilkinson, during her time and stardom was billed as “the most photographed nude in America.” Wilkinson started out as a stage performer at 12 years old and, at 15, became the youngest topless dancer at the Windmill Theater in London.
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