Cebu: Battered but Not Shattered – Rising Together through Compassion and Collaboration
For nearly two months now, the people of Cebu have been enduring the painful aftermath of consecutive calamities that have shaken not only homes and infrastructure but also the hearts and hopes of entire communities. The destruction has been massive: countless families displaced, lives lost, churches damaged, and schools forced to suspend operations. Even St. Louise de Marillac College of Bogo, a beacon of Vincentian education in northern Cebu, was not spared from the devastation.
The series of calamities began on September 30, when a powerful 6.9-magnitude earthquake struck northern Cebu. According to the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS), it was the strongest earthquake ever recorded in the province’s history. In a few seconds, roads cracked open and long-standing buildings, including old churches, sustained deep and lasting damage. Communities in Bogo, Medellin, San Remigio, and Daanbantayan were among the hardest hit, leaving families struggling to secure food, shelter, and safety as aftershocks continued to rattle their already shaken spirits.
Yet, as Cebuano families were still reeling and rebuilding from the earthquake, another catastrophe happened. A month later, Typhoon Tino swept across central Cebu, bringing strong winds and heavy rainfall that triggered unprecedented flooding. Houses that had survived the earthquake were swept away; many that had been slightly damaged were destroyed completely. The typhoon intensified the uncertainty of survivors, many of whom lost access to clean water, electricity, and the ability to prepare even a simple meal.
In the face of such overwhelming challenges, the strength of communal compassion becomes a source of hope. Amidst the devastation, the spirit of “bayanihan”, the uniquely Filipino expression of selfless helping, remained alive. Urged by mercy and compassion, the Vincentian Family of Cebu responded swiftly to bring aid and support to affected communities.
From the first days after the earthquake, the Vincentian Family initiated the “Pakiglambigit” Vincentian Family – Cebu Disaster Response Collaboration, pooling resources and mobilizing volunteers to respond to the urgent needs. The Daughters of Charity moved quickly, establishing command and coordination centers at Asilo de la Milagrosa and St. Louise de Marillac College of Bogo.
Building strong linkages with partners and networks allowed for a faster, more efficient response. Through the ABS-CBN Foundation-Sagip Kapamilya, and with the support of DC institutions and local communities, CEAP Region 7, Jollibee Foods, Alumni, NGOs and other network of friends, immediate response in cash and in kind poured in. Trucks loaded with rice, canned food, bottled water, blankets, and hygiene kits – made their way to the devastated municipalities in northern Cebu – San Remigio, Medellin, Tabogon, Daanbantayan, and Bogo City. Collaboration is on fire! Volunteers, Lay Mission Partners, Priests, and Sisters worked tirelessly in sorting, packing, and distributing supplies to families sheltering in makeshift tents and open evacuation centers. In addition, the Society of St. Vincent de Paul (SSVP), in partnership with Colegio de la Inmaculada Concepcion – Mandaue, facilitated psychological first-aid sessions in Brgy. Bitoon in Daanbantayan, Brgy. Bagtik in San Remigio, and Brgy. La Paz in Bogo, providing survivors with emotional support as they coped with the trauma of the earthquake.
But it was after Typhoon Tino that this collaboration grew even more vital. With many households left without water, electricity or functional kitchens, access to hot meals became an urgent need. In response, the local communities of the Daughters of Charity in Cebu opened their facilities to serve as temporary kitchens for the ABS-CBN Foundation-Sagip Kapamilya feeding mission. Sisters, volunteers, and ABS-CBN Foundation staff worked side by side – preparing ingredients, cooking big pots of hot meals, and packing them for distribution to barangays cut off by flooding, including Tugbongan in Consolacion, Cotcot in Liloan, Paknaan and Maguikay in Mandaue. Relief goods also reached as far as THE municipalities of Balamban and Asturias.
