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| Dr. Renato Solidum |
But Dr. Renato Solidum, a Phivocs director, delivered his technical subject matter in perfectly understandable laymen’s terms that I could not help but stay awake during his hour-long discussion of issues related to geological disasters, like earthquakes, and the hazards of living within the ring of fire, putting past incidents in the right scientific perspective.
Only then was I able to understand the Ginsaugon landslide in Southern Leyte a few years ago, the Cherry Hill Subdivision landslide several years ago, the tectonic plates of the earth and the pressures they create on the land and sea, the different kinds of tsunamis and why earthquakes occur, and the reasons why landslides could still occur in heavily forested areas. It was a crash course in Geology alright.
He said Ginsaugon was a disaster waiting to happen as its residents resided in an area that had a history of landslides. In fact, he said, there were indications in its vegetation that the landslide was going to take place soon. But since the farmers who saw these manifestations could not interpret them, they did not think of leaving their residences. Their ignorance led to the death of hundreds.
His logic was sharp, his humor often caustic, and some of his quips were simply funny. On introducing his agency, he said it has two major divisions: the heavenly and the earth-bound. He meant Pag-asa and Phivocs.
One funny quip had to do with language, like how would you translate “tailend of a cold front into Pilipino?”
“Buntot sa hulihan sa malamig na harapan,”
Solidum denied me my precious siesta. How could I doze off when the guy kept throwing adlibs like that?
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