The bayanihan spirit has again sparked kindness, generosity, and volunteerism even before weather disturbance ‘Kristine’ turned into a tropical storm, and yesterday, as a “severe tropical storm” raising wind signals in 43 areas as of 5 a.m., Oct. 25.

Our strong sense of community to offer help to strangers when disaster strikes has been cited as the spine that raises our resilience to return to our lives before a flood, earthquake or volcanic eruption.

That has been recognized at the recent Asia-Pacific Ministerial Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction (APMCDRR) hosted by the Philippines, Oct. 14-17, 2024, an event spearheaded by the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR). “Kamal Kishore, the special representative of the UN Secretary-General for Disaster Risk Reduction, called our country a ‘lighthouse to the world’,” wrote Manila Bulletin columnist, Antipolo Mayor Jun Ynares, who was one of the speakers.

“What impressed the UN official was what he called our country’s approach of “walking across sectors.” He was referring to the “inclusive” strategy of dealing with disasters where all stakeholders pitch in and help in order to mitigate the impact of adverse events triggered by climate change. He said the Philippines’ collaborative approach has put us ahead in disaster risk reduction initiatives. In a way, the UN official was paying tribute to our spirit and culture of bayanihan,” Ynares said in his column, “Bayanihan as disaster management model.”

On Oct. 23, after a night of strong winds and rains which caused flooding in the south, especially in the Bicol Region, we all woke to “bayanihan” in action.  In social media, the photos of people being rescued or negotiating deep floods transmitted the call for help.

When former Vice President Leni Robredo, chairman of Angat Buhay Foundation and Kaya Natin Movement member, posted a call for help, donations in cash and kind flowed in. Among the first to respond was Bacolod-based Negrense Volunteers for Change (NVC) which immediately activated the production line of Mingo Meals, sending boxes of the nutritious meals to Naga City.  

Generous citizens immediately sent donations and 10 hours after the post, the Kaya Natin Movement for Good Governance and Ethical Leadership recorded more than ₱4 million in donations.  As of 8 a.m. of Oct. 25, the donations had reached ₱13.4 million.

More than two dozen non-profit organizations initiated fund raising drives and donations of food and dry goods for the victims of severe typhoon Kristine, which had dumped extraordinary amounts of rains in many areas after it developed into a tropical depression on Oct. 21 and made landfall in Isabela as a severe tropical storm on Oct. 23. It then crossed the northern part of Luzon toward the West Philippine Sea.

It is good to see the strong signs that the bayanihan spirit will live on to the next generation.  More than 30 youth groups and school-based organizations have activated fund-raising and volunteer drives to help victims of the typhoon from different sectors, like farmers, fiskerfolk, and indigenous people. Among them are the Agham Youth; Angat GenC; ASEAN Youth Advocates Network; Franciscan Youth- Tabontabon; Kaya Natin Youth-Lucena; Tulong Kabataan; Youth Advocates for Climate Action Philippines; Youth Ambassadors of Albay; and the Student Council Alliance of the Philippines (SCAP).

On the sidelines, away from social media, neighbors extended help to neighbors, offering spaces to sleep for the night, and sharing meals and warm clothing.
Amid the rage of nature, it was good to find the spirit of bayanihan still alive and well among us.