Manila Bulletin
Technews
Bayanihan Para Sa Bayan: How This Group Used Technology To Fill In The Gaps in Mobility Restrictions
Technews
Bayanihan Para Sa Bayan: How This Group Used Technology To Fill In The Gaps in Mobility Restrictions
Bayanihan Para Sa Bayan: How This Group Used Technology To Fill In The Gaps in Mobility Restrictions
Published Apr 17, 2020 12:00 am
There’s a common phrase that says “no pain, no gain.” We usually attribute it to the sculpting of our bodies or making sure our health or body is in pristine condition. This year, pain has become evident for us to gain for the betterment of the whole nation. We need to stay home, adhere to the local government’s strict protocols, and ultimately, boost our immune system respectively.
In this day and age, where everything is literally a tap away, helping one another is seamless. Sharing our quarantine food hacks, stories, and even the funniest disinfecting mishaps on Facebook or Instagram became the new normal. But do not forget that there are a number of Facebook pages now that offer mental health consultation, medical consultation, and alike.
If there's one thing we should be proud of, it would be our capability to respond immediately in a pandemic situation like the novel coronavirus or COVID-19. It has been a month, and while recoveries surpass the number of deaths, many still live in fear and ambiguity. Nevertheless, we are quick to adjust and help in a crisis like this which our ancestors have indeed instilled an irreplaceable trait: "Bayanihan."
She is Hershey Neri of Hey Hershey Blog. She helped us organize funds for Taal eruption victims last January 14, 2020. Photo owned by her.
Bayanihan is a Filipino custom derived from a Filipino word “bayan” means nation, community, or town. Bayanihan is a term we use to describe the oneness or unity of a community towards the betterment of everyone. Back in the day, when there were no trucks or movers, people (usually men) would do “Bayanihan” by physically lifting houses or home items to move somewhere. It was their way of lending a helping hand.
This photo was taken during the Medical Mission in Tagaytay. Kudos and thanks to these hardworking doctors as most of them came from their night shifts.
Nowadays, lending a helping hand is easier, thanks to technology. Given the strict implementation of the enhanced community quarantine and lockdown protocols, logistics became a challenge to small non-profit groups or organizations. Truthfully, there are a lot of donors who would like to donate but because the majority are on lockdown, transporting goods like PPEs, masks, face shields were hard.
In Tagaytay-Alfonso, ECQ is so strict - no one can go in and out of town. Resources are limited and products are available only within the community premises.
These trials didn't hinder this group’s "Bayanihan" spirit, though.
Last Easter Sunday, a group called "Bayanihan Para Sa Bayan" organized a food drive in Alfonso, Baler, Tagaytay, and Cagayan De Oro.
Filling the gap
“Behind these successful stories were sleepless nights and countless hours of brainstorming on how we can move around the lockdown restrictions,” said Kei San Pablo of One To Scale and the woman behind Bayanihan Para Sa Bayan, a non-profit organization, answered confidently when asked how they were able to feed hundreds of families despite being locked down. To her and other group members, filling the gap was hard as they need to ensure the safety of all members, including the delivery people. Although armed with protective equipment and suits, they might catch the virus along the way, and could also be possible carriers.
They are using their professions as digital nomads to fill in the gaps. They used the power of social media and technology to fill in the gaps of restrictions in mobility.
They created different group chats on Messenger to ensure seamless communication in cascading information. They tasked community head organizers to collect the correct number of families to feed and carefully choose which community to feed.
Thanks to their partners, donors, family members, and of course, technology, their food drive last Sunday was a huge success.
Bayanihan Para Sa Bayan ng Baler
Baler is not just a haven for surfers but it's also a place of mindfulness and generosity. Ms. Lala delos Santos, a Baler native, along with her surfer and tourist friends, prepared meals for 112 families from Corehouse Sitio Ilaya, Brgy. Zabali, Baler.
Yuri Perez is the community head organizer. Yuri is the founder of Saku and also a river guide with Team Bugsay. Saku is an advocate for sustainable living. They sell handmade and upcycled materials. They were able to feed 100 families at Sitio Aura, Brgy. Mambuay. And because they are into sustainability, they asked their beneficiaries to bring their own containers to minimize waste and use of a single-use plastic spoon, fork, and styrofoam. Good job, CDO!
Bayanihan Para Sa Tagaytay and Alfonso
A different kind of Easter Sunday celebration! While everyone was solemnly celebrating the Holy Week, our front liners and health workers continue to offer their services for the Filipino people. Perhaps, a simple food drive would make them feel loved and appreciated.
Kei responded immediately to help make this food drive in Alfonso happen. Through the assistance of the fellow Team Alfonso volunteers, they were able to prepare homecooked meals for them. Team Alfonso was able to feed 220 people while the Tagaytay team distributed homecooked meals to five Barangays.
This organization was built to work as a conduit for donors who wish to donate to help our front liners, health workers, and other victims of COVID-19.
Having had first-hand experience of the Taal eruption, Team Alfonso believe in Kei's statement about how helpful to be tech-savvy in this day and age. "With no cash nor clothes to bring with us, our refuge, besides God, was my communication with my friends through social media. We were able to get through with the help of our Bayanihan efforts online."
We, therefore, must equip ourselves with the latest trend so we can cope with everything.
COVID-19 pandemic is teaching us to become more resilient and more susceptible to learning online. Gone are the days where ignorance is an excuse to escape from learning.
Technology is like a chore your mom had asked you to do. You still have to do it not because you want to but because you have to.
For Kei and her team, #nocommunityleftbehind. Bayanihan for the community, by the community.
She is Hershey Neri of Hey Hershey Blog. She helped us organize funds for Taal eruption victims last January 14, 2020. Photo owned by her.
Bayanihan is a Filipino custom derived from a Filipino word “bayan” means nation, community, or town. Bayanihan is a term we use to describe the oneness or unity of a community towards the betterment of everyone. Back in the day, when there were no trucks or movers, people (usually men) would do “Bayanihan” by physically lifting houses or home items to move somewhere. It was their way of lending a helping hand.
This photo was taken during the Medical Mission in Tagaytay. Kudos and thanks to these hardworking doctors as most of them came from their night shifts.
Nowadays, lending a helping hand is easier, thanks to technology. Given the strict implementation of the enhanced community quarantine and lockdown protocols, logistics became a challenge to small non-profit groups or organizations. Truthfully, there are a lot of donors who would like to donate but because the majority are on lockdown, transporting goods like PPEs, masks, face shields were hard.
In Tagaytay-Alfonso, ECQ is so strict - no one can go in and out of town. Resources are limited and products are available only within the community premises.
These trials didn't hinder this group’s "Bayanihan" spirit, though.
Last Easter Sunday, a group called "Bayanihan Para Sa Bayan" organized a food drive in Alfonso, Baler, Tagaytay, and Cagayan De Oro.
Filling the gap
“Behind these successful stories were sleepless nights and countless hours of brainstorming on how we can move around the lockdown restrictions,” said Kei San Pablo of One To Scale and the woman behind Bayanihan Para Sa Bayan, a non-profit organization, answered confidently when asked how they were able to feed hundreds of families despite being locked down. To her and other group members, filling the gap was hard as they need to ensure the safety of all members, including the delivery people. Although armed with protective equipment and suits, they might catch the virus along the way, and could also be possible carriers.
They are using their professions as digital nomads to fill in the gaps. They used the power of social media and technology to fill in the gaps of restrictions in mobility.
They created different group chats on Messenger to ensure seamless communication in cascading information. They tasked community head organizers to collect the correct number of families to feed and carefully choose which community to feed.
Thanks to their partners, donors, family members, and of course, technology, their food drive last Sunday was a huge success.
Bayanihan Para Sa Bayan ng Baler
Baler is not just a haven for surfers but it's also a place of mindfulness and generosity. Ms. Lala delos Santos, a Baler native, along with her surfer and tourist friends, prepared meals for 112 families from Corehouse Sitio Ilaya, Brgy. Zabali, Baler.
Photo by Pepe Forneste
They were able to cook 60 kilos of rice, pork adobo, and ginisang upo for 300 persons. Bayanihan Para Sa Cagayan De Oro
Yuri Perez is the community head organizer. Yuri is the founder of Saku and also a river guide with Team Bugsay. Saku is an advocate for sustainable living. They sell handmade and upcycled materials. They were able to feed 100 families at Sitio Aura, Brgy. Mambuay. And because they are into sustainability, they asked their beneficiaries to bring their own containers to minimize waste and use of a single-use plastic spoon, fork, and styrofoam. Good job, CDO!
Bayanihan Para Sa Tagaytay and Alfonso
A different kind of Easter Sunday celebration! While everyone was solemnly celebrating the Holy Week, our front liners and health workers continue to offer their services for the Filipino people. Perhaps, a simple food drive would make them feel loved and appreciated.
Kei responded immediately to help make this food drive in Alfonso happen. Through the assistance of the fellow Team Alfonso volunteers, they were able to prepare homecooked meals for them. Team Alfonso was able to feed 220 people while the Tagaytay team distributed homecooked meals to five Barangays.
This organization was built to work as a conduit for donors who wish to donate to help our front liners, health workers, and other victims of COVID-19.
Having had first-hand experience of the Taal eruption, Team Alfonso believe in Kei's statement about how helpful to be tech-savvy in this day and age. "With no cash nor clothes to bring with us, our refuge, besides God, was my communication with my friends through social media. We were able to get through with the help of our Bayanihan efforts online."
We, therefore, must equip ourselves with the latest trend so we can cope with everything.
COVID-19 pandemic is teaching us to become more resilient and more susceptible to learning online. Gone are the days where ignorance is an excuse to escape from learning.
Technology is like a chore your mom had asked you to do. You still have to do it not because you want to but because you have to.
For Kei and her team, #nocommunityleftbehind. Bayanihan for the community, by the community.