A trowel (/ˈtraʊ.əl/), in the hands of an archaeologist, is like a trusty sidekick — a tiny, yet mighty, instrument that uncovers ancient secrets, one well-placed scoop at a time. It’s the Sherlock Holmes of the excavation site, revealing clues about the past with every delicate swipe.
In the aftermath of Severe Tropical Storm Kristine (Trami), the weaknesses in the Philippines’ disaster preparedness have become evident. The storm highlighted gaps in coordination, response, and planning, revealing the urgent need for a more comprehensive and proactive approach to managing disasters. And so, despite repeated warnings about the increasing severity and frequency of extreme weather events driven by climate change, communities remain vulnerable.
We urgently need a long-term, proactive strategy supported by sustained investment and integrative research that brings together climate scientists, archaeologists, indigenous knowledge holders, and policymakers. Lessons from Luzon’s colonial past, when natural hazards were frequent, offer valuable insights for our future.
Historically, natural disasters like typhoons and earthquakes have been treated as isolated events. However, understanding these hazards as ongoing processes that communities have learned to navigate over time provides a clearer perspective on how societies can adapt. Max Findley’s research illustrates that while Spanish colonizers in mid-colonial Luzon modified buildings to adapt to frequent disasters, they failed to integrate indigenous knowledge into their planning. This historical context is highly relevant today.
Archaeology reveals how long-term adaptations, including changes in settlement patterns and agricultural practices, were key to ancient communities’ survival. These lessons, combined with climate science, which provides precise data on future risks, offer a roadmap for improving our disaster preparedness today. Too often, however, this data is overlooked in favor of reactive, short-term measures.
Greg Bankoff’s research highlights how Filipino communities during the Spanish colonial period adapted to recurring small-scale disasters through architectural, agricultural, and social strategies. Communities utilized the flexibility of the bahay kubo, a structure that, while vulnerable, posed less risk of fatal collapse. Agricultural practices were adjusted to withstand floods, and community support networks played a crucial role in survival — fortunately, a practice that persists today.
Grace Barretto-Tesoro and Vito Hernandez’s study of 19th-century Batangas provides another example of adaptive strategies in response to recurrent flooding. In 1890, persistent floods forced the residents of San Juan to relocate their town inland. This proactive, long-term strategy mirrored similar shifts in settlement patterns during the colonial period. These responses illustrate the importance of integrating historical and indigenous knowledge with climate science to develop disaster preparedness plans that are both forward-thinking and sustainable.
The Batangas example underscores the need for the government to invest in comprehensive, long-term disaster preparedness plans. These plans must incorporate insights from archaeology, climate projections, and indigenous practices. Just as Batangas residents faced recurrent flooding, Typhoon Kristine highlights the need for proactive planning to mitigate the escalating effects of climate change. By investing in sustained climate research and long-term strategies, we can better equip communities to face future disasters and ensure they have the tools and knowledge needed for secure, sustainable futures.
The time has come to elevate and integrate indigenous knowledge into formal disaster management policies. Communities in Bicol and other regions have passed down environmental stewardship strategies that provide essential insights into disaster preparedness. Practices such as planting flood-resistant crops and utilizing natural buffers like mangroves have proven their effectiveness over centuries but remain underutilized in modern frameworks. These methods should be central to our efforts to build stronger, more sustainable communities.
In addition to climate change, the rampant environmental degradation caused by human activities — such as quarrying, logging, and the conversion of mangrove areas into fishponds — is exacerbating the country’s vulnerability to natural disasters. These extractive industries, often poorly regulated, have accelerated the destruction of vital ecosystems that serve as natural buffers against calamities.
Mangroves, for example, play a critical role in protecting coastal areas from storm surges and flooding, but their disappearance due to fishpond development leaves these regions more exposed to the impacts of typhoons like Kristine. Similarly, deforestation from logging operations weakens soil integrity, increasing the risk of landslides and flash floods during heavy rains. Quarrying, which strips away vegetation and destabilizes landscapes, further compounds the issue by making communities more prone to erosion and collapse.
These destructive practices not only degrade the environment but also undermine the long-term safety of communities, highlighting the urgent need for stricter regulation and sustainable alternatives in industries that impact disaster preparedness. Integrating solutions to address both climate change and environmental degradation must be central to any future disaster management plan.
This is where the government must take decisive action. Integrating archaeology, climate science, and indigenous knowledge into a cohesive disaster preparedness strategy is not just a theoretical exercise, it is an urgent necessity. Typhoon Kristine is a stark reminder of the consequences of failing to combine these forms of knowledge. Had historical lessons been applied, and climate data incorporated alongside indigenous knowledge, the impact of the disaster could have been reduced.
Equally important is the need for long-term investment in climate research. Short-term projects and funding cycles are insufficient. Just as colonial authorities learned that repeated disasters required sustained adaptation efforts, we too must commit to multi-year investments in research. Consistent support for interdisciplinary research will help build robust, adaptable systems that can anticipate and mitigate the effects of future disasters.
It is time to invest — not in isolated projects, but in a framework that integrates climate science, archaeology, and indigenous knowledge. Long-term, sustained support for integrative climate research is the only way forward, especially in vulnerable regions like Bicol, where the next typhoon is a matter of when, not if.
Typhoon Kristine and other recent disasters underscore the urgency of acting now. If we fail to act, we risk repeating the mistakes of the past and leaving our communities exposed. The future of our children, and their children, depends on the decisions we make today to slow the impacts of climate change and build more secure, prepared societies. – Rappler.com
Stephen B. Acabado is professor of anthropology at the University of California-Los Angeles. He directs the Ifugao and Bicol Archaeological Projects, research programs that engage community stakeholders. He grew up in Tinambac, Camarines Sur. Follow him on IG @s.b.acabado.
