"In this fascinating and pioneering study, Greg Bankoff traces the history of natural hazard in the Philippines from the early days of Spanish colonialism to the 'Calamitous 1990s'. He examines the correlation between this history of disasters and the political structure, economic system and social order within Filipino society. So constant has been the threat of disaster that it has been integrated into the schema of daily life to form what can be called 'cultures of disaster'."--BOOK JACKET.