Resilience lives in every act of kindness
Ghost and the MMDA K-9 Corps team embody the spirit of a compassionate and resilient Philippines
By Len Amadora
Published Oct 10, 2025 12:53 pm
Metro Manila Dog Association K9, Ghost, with handler Sheryl Impacis on site during the relief operations in Bogo City.
When disaster strikes, even the unlikeliest heroes emerge. After the 6.9 magnitude earthquake shook Cebu Province on September 30, many lives were lost. Homes, buildings, and churches were reduced to rubble. In response, humanitarian aid poured in day and night to support the affected communities. Volunteers, first responders, and local leaders mobilized swiftly to help the victims. But among the many, one unlikely hero stood out: Ghost---a rescuer with four legs, a wagging tail, and a nose trained to save lives.
Ghost is a German Shepherd from the MMDA K-9 Corps, a unit of the Metro Manila Dogs Association. With three deployments under her collar, Ghost's career is nothing short of remarkable. Alongside her handler, Ms. Sheryl Impacis, this wide-eyed canine first served in Batangas City during a landslide, then in Tagaytay, and now in Bogo City. Together with fellow volunteers, Ghost and Ms. Sheryl made their way to ground zero, searching for survivors.
Meanwhile, Savoy Hotel Mactan Newtown, a pet-inclusive hotel, welcomed the MMDA K-9 Corps team, providing them with a comfortable place to rest and recharge, along with hot meals to nourish them before they continued their search and rescue mission.
Savoy Hotel Mactan Newtown offers pet-friendly rooms designed with comfort in mind, making every stay a paw-sitive experience. (Image from MMDA K-9 Corps' Facebook page)
Building Resilient Communities
Contrary to popular belief, sustainability isn't just about recycling, planting trees, or installing solar panels. It is also about how we treat one another, especially in times of crisis.
Under UNSDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities, one of the goals is to make cities inclusive, safe, resilient, and sustainable. This includes strengthening efforts to protect communities from the impacts of disasters.
Preparedness is essential. And it takes more than just having emergency kits or evacuation plans. It requires investing in people, animals, infrastructure, and institutions that can act swiftly and with compassion. The MMDA K-9 Corps is one such example, always ready to offer help wherever, whenever disaster strikes.
MMDA K-9 Corps back at Savoy Hotel Mactan Newtown following Bogo City rescue mission together with General Manager Josef Chiongbian, Associate Director for Safety and Security VisMin Lan Lago, and RAPID Ambulance Cebu President Rafael Enriquez.
When we hear about sustainability, let's not think only of environmental protection. It is also about community resilience --- how we survive, recover, and rebuild after a crisis. Ghost, together with the MMDA K-9 Corps, reminds us that sustainability lives in the systems we build, the compassion we show, and the heroes we sometimes overlook.