Batangas is the land of the barakos, tough, quick-tempered men who can be brave and deadly at the same time. The womenfolk are known to be equally assertive and strong-willed. With a citizenry possessing such fierce qualities, one wonders if Mother Nature intentionally put amidst this place Taal Volcano to further cement the reputation of the province as home to the bold and fiery.
Indeed, Taal Volcano has a fiery past. With a summit elevation of only 1,020 feet, it has altered the landscape of its nearby areas as well as its own with its powerful outbursts. Thirty-three (33) eruptions have been recorded in 1572 followed by more catastrophic eruptions in 1911 and 1965 that claimed thousands of lives. Also because of recent volcanic activity and its proximity to thickly populated area, it has been included among the world's 16 Decade Volcanoes identified by the International Association of Volcanology and Chemistry of the Earth's Interior.
Taal_craterAnd yet, the scenic Taal Volcano still beckon. So seductive is Taal's charm that it is consistently among the top destinations for a day trip outside Metro Manila. The once sparsely-populated strip of lot in Tagaytay Ridge is now a bustling commercial haven with countless restaurants and coffeshops offering patrons more than just a spectacular view of this geological marvel, a lake with an island that holds a lake in its crater making it a lake within a lake. Aside from the entrancing vista, part of Taal Volcano's allure is that one can explore it up close, all in one day. Boats for hire are available to ferry travelers to the volcano island from the shores of Talisay or San Nicolas, Batangas. Upon reaching the boat landing point, the locals will peddle you stuff they said you will need on your trek up - bottled water, hats, dust masks. But these are all part of the adventure- upon reaching the crater, everything else will be forgotten - steep trails and all - as you find yourself face to face with one of nature's impressive formation.
 At the top, tones are hushed and movements are measured, perhaps partly because the ridge is so steep - one misstep and down you go - and partly because the moment is too surreal. After all, how many active volcanoes can you visit up close in your lifetime? Below the precipice is the main crater lake, so dazzling in its peacefulness as it glistens under the sun's brightness. It is amazing to note that this very magnificent structure was created as an aftermath of a series of deadly geological activity.
Those who have ventured into the volcano's realm as it looms quietly may or may not be aware that they have stepped on dangerous grounds. Something is still brewing underneath for sure but there are issues outside of it that have begun percolating as well. Foremost among the serious concerns is the human-inflicted damage that is taking its toll on the environment. While Taal Lake is the travelers' conduit to the volcano island, it also serves as the source of livelihood for the fishermen living along its shores, this in spite of the area being declared by the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Philvolcs) as a permanent danger zone. According to local scientists, mismanagement of fish cages in the area coupled with poor regulation are contributing to the deterioration of water quality, eventually harming marine life. Litter can also be spotted on the volcano island as the influx of tourists grow daily. And lately, the Philippine government has taken heat for allowing a foreign-funded commercial spa to be built near the volcano's rim. Fortunately, due to dissenting voices from other government agencies and environment activists, the project was scrapped.
The debate on how best to protect this natural treasure and at the same time benefit from its rich resources rages on. On the good side, some private organizations have started a drive to rid the lake and volcano island of mounting rubbish (although sadly the litter seems to multiply even after such clean-up). The bad side, however, reflects the yet unresolved issue of imposing tougher laws to regulate fish farming on the lake.
Old folks usually say that nature always finds a way to retaliate if man does enough damage and somehow that rings true. Who knows, Taal Volcano might one day unleash its fury once more just to remind us who the boss truly is - just like a true barako.
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