The social construction of disaster: Typhoon Ondoy in the context of Sagrada Familia and Inquirer.net

College

College of Liberal Arts

Department/Unit

Behavioral Sciences

Document Type

Conference Proceeding

Source Title

Asian Rural Sociology Association (ARSA) International Conference

Volume

2

First Page

473

Last Page

490

Publication Date

9-2010

Abstract

Generally, studies on disaster in the field of social science are plain descriptions of the phenomenon, and subjects are simply regarded as victims and rescuers. There is limited initiative to generate theories and methodological advances out of the experiences. These limitations are the primary consideration in this study. Primarily, the aim of this research is to elicit theoretical and methodological contributions to the field of Sociology. This paper revolves on a premise that disaster is not a natural phenomenon but rather a social construction. In broad stroke, the inquiry centers on the social construction of disaster among the members of Sagrada Familia and Inquirer.net. This paper contends that there is an array of contexts that can be used in the analysis of the typhoon Ondoy in the Philippines as a social phenomenon. Specifically, the paper aims to know the representations of Ondoy as articulated in the articles of Inquirer.net, identify the indigenous concepts of Ondoy among the members of Sagrada Familia, and make a comparison of these concepts. Through review of the articles in Inquirer.net, in- depth interviews and observation, the salient themes that surfaced are natural calamity and mishap, and “sakuna”; disaster and tragedy, and “trahedya”; evacuation and “bakwet/bakwetan; assistance and “tulong”; and rebuilding, hardwork and” sipag”, and “paghahandang ispiritwal”.

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Disciplines

Emergency and Disaster Management

Keywords

Disasters; Natural disasters

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