As the nation braces for another supertyphoon expected to make landfall in Central or Northern Luzon by Monday, families across the country are once again preparing for long hours without electricity, unstable communications, and the suspension of classes. In these moments, let us not only secure our physical safety but also nurture learning, strengthen family bonds, and the spirit of bayanihan.

Disaster preparedness must go hand in hand with educational continuity. Before the storm hits, make sure that textbooks, learning packets, and storybooks are easily accessible. Encourage children to read, review lessons, or engage in self-paced activities. And when night falls, gather the family to share stories—about perseverance, kindness, and the history of your own household. These stories, passed on through generations, fortify our sense of belonging.

Through the storm, and especially after the winds have calmed, remind the young of the Filipino spirit of bayanihan through action – volunteer in church and barangay relief operations, and if you are not able-bodied, donate to the many non-government organizations that are involved in disaster management.

Natural calamities have repeatedly disrupted the learning process of millions of Filipino students. Just last week, Typhoon Tino battered the Visayas, claiming 188 lives and inflicting widespread damage to property and livelihoods. With another supertyphoon approaching, classes will likely be suspended once more, not only during the storm but also in the days after, while floodwaters subside and debris is cleared.

These disruptions compound the nation’s ongoing learning crisis. Recent assessments have revealed that many Filipino students perform below grade level in reading and numeracy. The Department of Education (DepEd) has acknowledged this challenge and is now pursuing a comprehensive reform and recovery agenda to ensure that, even amid disasters, education “must be the last to stop and the first to recover.”

To help mitigate learning loss, the DepEd has revitalized DepEd TV in partnership with the Knowledge Channel Foundation Inc. (KCFI) and Solar Pictures, Inc. This initiative will once again make educational programming available through free-to-air television, enabling learners without internet access to continue studying. KCFI will provide curriculum-aligned materials, while Solar Pictures will dedicate a digital terrestrial channel for DepEd TV’s broadcast.

In parallel, DepEd has allocated ₱1.35 billion to print and distribute Learning Packets and Dynamic Learning Program (DLP) materials nationwide. Each packet, designed for Grades 1 to 12, contains 25 to 50 self-paced activities focused on literacy, numeracy, and problem-solving—resources that can sustain learning even when classrooms are closed. “In hard times, learners need more hope and direction,” Education Secretary Sonny Angara emphasized. “Despite limited electricity or signal, there must be means to continue learning.”

Prolonged suspensions, though sometimes necessary, should be paired with alternative delivery modes—printed modules, radio, or broadcast instruction—to prevent further learning loss.

While the supertyphoon’s arrival compels us to seek shelter, let us remember that every quiet hour indoors can still be an opportunity for growth. Encourage children to read, write, draw, or listen to stories that spark imagination and strengthen resilience. When the skies clear and classrooms remain closed, let those lessons continue at home—lessons in patience, gratitude, and bayanihan.

There will always be many stories to tell when the lights go out. And there will be many things to do for anyone who volunteers.