Taal Volcano

Taal Volcano, located on the island of Luzon about two hours outside Manila in the crawl of traffic, is one of the most active and complex volcanoes in the Philippines. It sits within Taal Lake, creating a picturesque yet deceptive beauty. Geologically, Taal is a caldera volcano with numerous smaller craters and a history of frequent eruptions due to its position on the Pacific Ring of Fire. Historically, Taal has erupted more than 30 times since the 16th century, causing significant loss of life and property. Interestingly, the last major eruption occurred on January 12, 2020, only one day after Desiree and her family visited Taal. That eruption led to widespread evacuations and disruption. Ash even fell on Desiree’s sister’s house in nearby Cavite.

Desiree and I visited Taal with her sister and family in 2024. We ate dinner at a lovely eatery overlooking the lake and the volcano. Yesterday, on a flight back to Manila before we hop off to Boracay today, we flew over Taal, allowing for a perfect view from above.

I am posting two photographs of Taal from 2024 and one captured from the plane yesterday.

Taal (2024)

Desiree with Taal in the Background (2024)

Taal from the Air (2026)

—Mitchell Hegman