Taking Initiative

Tuning into the news, it’s almost impossible, as a human being, not to be moved by the images of the destruction wrought by Typhoon Yolanda (AKA Haiyan). Alongside the awe-inspiring aid pouring in from all over the globe (billions in pledges, military assistance, medical and humanitarian missions, and even an animal rescue mission!), ordinary citizens have stepped up to heed the survivors’ plea for help with their own heartfelt, personal initiatives. Red tape in relief efforts? Count on the Pinoy’s trademark ingenuity and networking skills to raise funds, deploy aid, and reach as many people as possible, as quickly as possible, with no agenda. Just the desire to help. Compassion is alive, bayanihan is everywhere—and no contribution is too small, whether you are donating in cash (that precious Japanese pre-schooler donating his piggy bank savings!), in kind (clearing closets, repacking relief goods), or in kindness (mabuhay Oplan Hatid!).

From the generous to the ingenious, here are some ways regular citizens are pitching in:

Polish For Panties
Pam Pastor, polish fiend and subsection editor of PDI's Super, shares: “This past week has been so heartbreaking and I wanted to do what I could to help. RockEd Philippines has a drive for new underwear for the typhoon victims, which is great because it's an often overlooked need in times of calamities. I went to Divisoria and bought undies for men, women and kids. After that first trip to Divi, I posted on Facebook that I planned to go back and friends and acquaintances suddenly started sending messages, asking how they can send money to buy more undies. I have a ton of nail polish and I found myself thinking, if I can sell some of these bottles, I can get more money to buy undies! I made signs, brought them to the office, and I was thrilled by the way people responded. Guys even started buying polish for their girlfriends. At the end of the night, we made P6650! I returned to Divi the next day with my friend Smile (who also adopted the Polish for Panties idea in her beauty boutique) and, armed with the Polish for Panties money and pledges for friends, bought dozens and dozens of underwear. We've donated over 4,300 panties and briefs to RockEd's New Underwear Drive.” Pam’s project is still ongoing, with colleagues “pimping” her polish even when she’s not in the office—so far, they’ve raised another P11,588!

One-Man Mission
Burger Avenue owner Martin Silverio, who was based for a few years in Cebu, dropped everything immediately to come to the aid of his second home. “They, too, were badly hit and not much people were paying attention so I decided to leave and help in that area. I told my family and friends about my plan and cash donations poured in. I bought everything in Cebu, sent it to Bantayan and did the distributing with friends from Cebu.” What propelled him to fly to Cebu on his own? “I think each of us has to help in any way we can. In times like this, positivity and action is the key to move forward. Ranting and negativity will set us back. We should wake up every day being grateful for all the blessings we have in life, and just overlook the not-so-good things.”

Faith Network
Santuario de San Antonio in Forbes Park has been running volunteer relief operations since Ondoy in 2009, so they’ve pretty much got a system in place, which is this—when chairman JJ Yulo sends out the bat signal, the youth of San Antonio (and other volunteers who hear about it through word of mouth) come to the rescue. Led by parish priest Fr. Joel Sulse and “Manong” JJ, the coordination team includes Mike Yuson for deployments, and Alli Raval and Simon Villalon who handle the coordination and operations. What’s the power of a text, a tweet, a Facebook post? Relying mainly on social networks to call for volunteers and donations, the team shares, “We’ve been able to pack close to 30 tons of goods. So far we have sent to Tacloban, Ormoc, Cebu, Samar, Iloilo and Aklan. We've also sent to the Villamor evacuee operations.” Going strong for two weeks now, the community spirit is a joy to behold. Did we mention they’re prone to breaking out into song in the assembly line?

Small Wonder
Like her parents JJ and Cres Yulo, six-year-old Clara is equally pro-active. Cres shares, “We were at Bonifacio High Street because the cast of Amazing God which JJ is a part of had a concert that night. They decided to make it a benefit show, so I told Clara to decorate a jar and collect donations. When we got there, we walked around while waiting for the sound system to arrive. Then she started shouting ‘MONEY FOR YOLAAANDAAA!!!’” Soon, people were digging into their pockets, and one teen was even overheard telling his friends, “Dude, we can’t not give.” Little Clara ended up collecting over P3000, which went to the San Antonio relief funds as well.

Feeding Program
When Missy Santos thought of donating something more nutritious and healthy than the usual canned goods and cup noodles, she never imagined her initiative would extend to strangers around the world. Missy shares, “My family is part of a health advocacy group and Vitameal was the best option. I just started sending texts and got a few donations, but it was when I posted the message on Facebook that it exploded to what it is now. My sister Trina and a few other friends started sharing the message, and within minutes, I started getting countless pledges from all over the world. Since November 10, we’ve been able to pledge a total of 300+ bags of Vitameal [one bag feeds 30], and with Nourish The Children’s 50+10 matching program, that’s a total of 360+ bags, or 10,800 hot, healthy, and nutritious meals for our brothers and sisters in the Visayas.” All donations were deployed by Nourish the Children Foundation to either Tacloban, Samar, IloIlo, Ormoc, or North Cebu. They all have emergency shelters with hot water, plus volunteers who know how to prepare Vitameal for the victims.

Schoolbags for Survivors

The Center for Blended Learning is holding an AMP (arts, music, and peace) Fest entitled Class Act on December 14 for the benefit of Yolanda kid survivors. Shares Regina Abuyuan, “We're a small school with big ambitions for kids. This Christmas' mission: 1000 schoolbags for Yolanda kid survivors. The most important thing to give to survivors of tragedies—after immediate needs like food, shelter, clothing—is dignity and hope. Education and the proper mindset can provide that. The schoolbag is just a start.” Together with partner Joanne Tupas-Parsons, head teacher, Zeena Pañares, and education consultants Tessa and Joel Yuvienco, Regina hopes to help the children pick up from where they left off in school. “According to friends from the Department of Education in the Visayas region, there will be a massive need to help kids get back in classrooms in a month's time.”

The Spirit of Christmas

Cathy Sanchez Babao, together with her daughter Pia Guballa and Mon Corpuz, set up Adopt-a-Town for Christmas on Facebook, an initiative to encourage individuals and groups to channel some of their Christmas party/gift funds into projects that will bring joy to towns devastated by typhoon Yolanda. From a simple Facebook initiative, the “matchmakers” Cathy, Pia, Mon, and their network of local contacts have been able to link kindhearted donors with towns that desperately need help, and the movement is only growing bigger as Christmas draws near. (Message them on Facebook to adopt a town for Christmas!)

P.S. In times of crisis, Cathy’s Facebook wall is part information center, part beacon of hope. She recently shared: “Just came from a meeting with Ned Olney, Deputy Country Director of Save the Children, who has had 20 years of experience in disaster relief work all over the world. He says that the situation here is none like any other he has seen. Widespread and massive. I love what he said at the close of our meeting, ‘We need to change the stories we tell now, from one of despair and destruction, to one of recovery and hope.’ And so we must.”

And so we must.