Volunteerism in the eye of the storm

How volunteering transforms communities—and volunteers themselves

- By ANGELINE FAUSTINO, 19 First year college De La Salle University

A few weeks ago, the Philippines was battered by multiple typhoons, one after another, leaving little room for communities to recover before the next wave hit.

We saw once again the heartbreaking images of families making their way through chest-deep floodwater, makeshift boats created from refrigerators or wooden doors, and homes stripped bare by strong winds and heavy rain. Their furniture floating away again, their lives disrupted again and again. For those watching from the safety of their four walls, the destruction appeared only as flashes on a TV screen or endless posts on social media. But for many, it was not just another news story—it was their lived reality.

Behind every image and video footage of flooded homes or families cramped in evacuation centers are years of repeated loss and interrupted livelihoods. These are not isolated incidents. They are symptoms of deeper systemic gaps in infrastructure, urban planning, and disaster preparedness.

I found myself asking, What can I do?