This past week, we’ve seen how one of the smallest volcanoes in the world could cause so much chaos, fear and inevitably, loss. It was and still is a dark time for most residents and animals in CALABARZON as the Taal volcano remains on alert level 4. Amidst the volcano spewing out many harmful things, numerous Filipinos have taken it upon themselves to counter its effects.

Throughout the week, citizens all over the country have been stepping up and going hand in hand to help those affected by this calamity. At this point, our sense of bayanihan is easily one of our nation’s best attributes and these stories are testaments to this.

People giving out facemasks

At the outset of all of the unexpected ashfall threatening the health of people, there was a shortage in this important protective gear. But people like Rosalina Matuano improvised and used her skills as a seamstress to provide these facemasks for people who needed them.

https://twitter.com/cnnphilippines/status/1216942784667480065

Even the riders of Angkas were in on it and made use of their efficient vehicles to distribute facemasks all over the metro

https://twitter.com/tabanats/status/1216645439048404993

Survivors of Mt. Pinatubo coming together

The people of Pampanga City headed by Gov, Dennis Pineda who were primarily victims of the Mt. Pinatubo eruption in 1991, have been doing relief operations for the recent victims of the Taal Volcano. This story is probably one of the most touching ones in here because it is a great example of paying things forward as Pampanga Gov. Pineda states that

“Naiintindihan natin kung gaano kahirap that time nung tayo ang tinamaan. Remember ’yung mga tumulong sa atin at that time… tayo naman ang tutulong ngayon.”

Free food from eateries and vendors

Business and profit didn’t come first for these eateries and vendors in as they put it aside to make way for a greater and much-needed cause for their fellow Batangueños.

some vendors decided to give up a day of their source of income and help feed evacuees here in pup – batangas | @ABSCBNNews @bayanmo @rapplerdotcom @MovePH pic.twitter.com/AYazDKMLs5

— bry (@iskatsbryte) January 13, 2020

Animal rescue volunteers

Acts of bayanihan didn’t just apply to human beings but also to the numerous animals that dwell in Taal and who were in dire need of being rescued from the heavy ashfall. Although there were reports of several animals and livestock dying, many were saved by these patient animal rescue volunteers.

[READ: Dogs left behind by Taal evacuees need food, clean water, immediate medical attention]

*Animal rescue operations for the horses of Taal island. Photo courtesy of inquirer.net*

Overwhelming volunteers for relief operations

The amount and frequency of relief operations and events popping up everywhere is telling of how much people want to help. Just recently, the Department of Social Welfare and Development(DSWD) reports of being overwhelmed by the number of people who are volunteering to either pack or distribute the relief goods.

DSWD on Tuesday said it received an overwhelming response for its call for volunteers for its relief operations for those affected by the eruption of Taal Volcano.

STORY: https://t.co/10RrmP8p6Y pic.twitter.com/CZjCGzTtPa

— UNTV News and Rescue (@UNTVNewsRescue) January 14, 2020

Then again, government agencies like this aren’t the only ones organizing relief operations. Schools, NGOs, groups of friends on social media, and even private institutions like ours have also been reaching out not only to the public but also its employees to ask for donations and volunteers.

Bayanihan among the victims

*Children line up for Food distribution. Photo courtesy of Inquirer.net*

So last Wednesday, one of our fellow content creators volunteered for a relief operation and shared a touching anecdote from the experience saying that when they were handing out food and supplies, she noticed that evacuees would try to give way for those who needed the items more. Thus, despite everything, the bayanihan spirit was also present in the victims and evacuees themselves.

See where and how you could contribute to this collective effort here.

Header photo courtesy of Inquirer.net

Get more stories like this by subscribing to our weekly newsletter here.

How to protect your pets from volcanic ashfall

What are the government’s plans for the victims of Taal Volcano’s eruption?