Philippines: Tsunami Monitoring and Quake Hoax · Global Voices
Mong Palatino

Following the 8.9-magnitude earthquake that rocked Japan, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS) issued a tsunami warning that could affect 19 coastal provinces in the Philippines.
Filipino netizens helped in advising the public to evacuate the coastal areas of the country. They also complemented the efforts of the mainstream media in giving regular updates on the situation in the ground.
For example, the Computer Professionals’ Union has created the Philippine Tsunami Monitoring page using the ushahidi platform. Below is a google map showing areas in the Philippines with tsunami alerts.
Through its official page, the government has been regularly issuing situation and preparation updates and evacuation efforts.
Based on initial reports, small waves hit some towns in the eastern side of the Philippines but so far no casualties or major damages have been reported yet.
@chresza15: RT @abscbnnews: BREAKING: Strong waves recorded along Isabela coastline; First wave also recorded in Ilocos Norte, Batanes #TVPatrol
@iamtaraaa: 3 meter waves have reached Batanes, Philippines
@whizkidmags: RT @TourismPinas: Tsunami that hit Davao at 8:45 PM is .44 meters or 44 centimeters. Highest so far recorded is in Baler at 70 centimeters. (via @raffytima)
#batanes became a twitter trending topic today. It refers to the northernmost province of the Philippines where a tsunami alert has been raised.
@nonnycarlos60: RT @ninacorpuz: Thank God Batanes is safe but officials advise those who live in coastal areas not to return home til tom.
@theperpetualkid: my relatives in Batanes are safe, but my tita said they're preparing just in case. they're in basco, so they're not near the beaches.
#samar also became a global twitter trending topic because of a report (which later turned out to be false) that an earthquake struck Samar province, located in the central part of the Philippines.
zaikenhuo: please refrain from saying that it quaked at Samar coz it did not
@KiiNDZ: RT @JULIUS_SEGOVIA: RT @cesarAPOLINARIO: Mayor from Allen Samar says there's no truth about the earthquake in our province #gmanews
@melsungit: If the Samar quake isn't true, then why did Inquirer tweet it?
@18_PM: RT @AbsCbnChannel2: Rumors about Samar getting hit by an earthquake are unconfirmed/possibly false. how come people can make fun of this? #pray
@clarilove: SAMAR is trending on twitter just coz some people are spreading false news about earthquake! WHAT THE F*CK.
Filipinos are also using the #tsunami hashtag to send their message of solidarity to the people of Japan.
@fueledbycola: glad that we seem safe from the quake+tsunami. Here's hoping for no more incidents, and a swift recovery for Japan and other affected areas