Relief operations aren’t limited to helping out at the covered courts. 

Relief efforts bring to mind familiar images: Plastic bags of canned goods, assembly lines of volunteers and stations set up in the college covered courts.

The Ateneo community has consistently responded to the disasters of recent years by holding relief operations on campus. After the destruction brought by Typhoon Yolanda, the community likewise mobilized to provide survivors with the basic necessities.

But there are other ways people chose—and continue to choose—to help. With on-campus relief operations regularly becoming overmanned, it was both efficient and resourceful how some members of the Ateneo community turned to other methods of offering aid. From undergraduate students to members of the faculty, these Filipinos showed us how help can come in various, ingenious ways.

Every little bit counts

While many Ateneans were packing relief goods, others were holding art sales that made the most of their skills in photography, illustration and design. For instance, Arriane Serafico (AB MEco ‘09), founder of the blog-turned-online publishing platform Wanderrgirl.com, organized one of the many art sales held for the benefit of those affected by the typhoon.

“Retweeting [tweets about Typhoon Yolanda] was making me feel increasingly helpless, removed and sleepless,” she shares. As Wanderrgirl.com promotes youth empowerment and creative nation building, Serafico is no stranger to taking action. She figured this was an opportunity to put that experience to use.

In eight days, Serafico and her team organized Katipunan #BaHAIYANihan, a garage sale and arts night. Proceeds from the sale went to the rebuilding of Malapascua Elementary School in Northern Cebu.

The team was composed of Serafico’s friends and past interns, many of whom were Ateneo undergraduates. “Very few teenagers can claim to have initiated a fundraiser from scratch, organized a bazaar in eight days and raised P126,130 in one night,” Serafico boasts.

“I was so, so scared na lalangawin ‘yung event. What if nobody came?” she says. In actuality, the response and generosity of the volunteers left Serafico speechless. Over 70 donors contributed to the effort, including Summit Media, Bianca Gonzalez, Doug Kramer and Nico Elorde. Members from Silly People’s Improv Theater, Ateneo Musicians’ Pool and Heights also performed for free at the event.

“It was a community giving experience,” she notes. People readily offered their skills and services to collaborate on a unique way of giving.

Beyond the tangible

Ensuring that survivors have access to food, water and shelter is the most immediate concern after a disaster, but help shouldn’t stop there. The Psychology Department of the Ateneo performed psychological first aid (PFA) right at the Villamor Air Base soon after the typhoon struck. Volunteers included psychology students and faculty, as well as non-government organizations and private companies.

“PFA is the next step after securing basic needs,” says Pochi Velasquez, a lecturer from the Psychology Department. PFA promotes feelings of security and self-efficacy so survivors can respond to current needs. But it is crucial that the right kind of counseling is offered; otherwise, it may actually worsen the situation.

Many survivors may need assessment for post-traumatic stress disorder. Unfortunately, those affected outnumber the available manpower. “We need to educate and strengthen the social support of these survivors,” Velasquez says. The Psychology Department is currently preparing seminars and workshops to address this concern.

The aid the department offers may not be something that can be packed into a bag, but is just as important in recovery. Velasquez says, “Research has consistently shown that psychological help is a necessary link in the helping process, especially for survivors of disasters.”

However, it’s not always easy to get people to recognize the need for psychological services. Addressing trauma is sometimes considered unnecessary. “Perhaps it’s the relatively nascent nature of the field here in the Philippines, maybe it’s part of the stigma people associate with seeking psychological help,” Velasquez says.

Thankfully, those views are slowly changing. Engaging in these kinds of relief efforts may help work against the stigma. “It’s a start, and maybe our efforts here now will help in improving that image,” says Velasquez.

Gifts that keep on giving

Several people have also turned an attentive eye towards the less critical needs of the survivors. Though such needs tend to be overlooked, for children affected by Typhoon Yolanda, toys can provide just as much comfort as food and clothing.

It’s for this reason that health sciences and history supersenior Pia Guballa has been hard at work on the 1,000 Bearhugs Project. The venture is currently being organized by the volunteer organization Black Pencil Project, but it was originally conceptualized by Guballa’s mother, Cathy Babao.

Since 2006, the 1,000 Bearhugs Project has been collecting toys for kids affected by calamities and conflict. A tweet from their official Twitter account reads, “Teddy bears are not relief goods. They are special friends, best pals and superheroes sent by kids for kids in need.” The project means to address the psychosocial needs of the children to help them work through trauma.

For Guballa, helping out was a natural response. “It was impossible to turn away from what was already in front of us… It’s unfair, it’s unjust and you do whatever you can,” she says. Thankfully, support for the cause has been nothing less than inspiring; volunteers and donors have been very gracious.

Though the effort and resources are present, logistical problems and heavy feelings can be a challenge. “It’s pretty difficult to be exposed to stories and realities this constantly,” shares Guballa. “But it also encourages and pushes you to do more.”

When it comes to relief goods, people think of food and clothing, not toys. But The 1,000 Bearhugs Project spotted a specific need that, though tangible, went far beyond the material. With open hearts, they addressed what might have been neglected in the rush of relief operations.

Onward march

In the wake of tragedy, many people are moved to help. What’s important to know, however, is that aid can be extended in several ways. From artists to social scientists, members of the Ateneo community have shown the potential of diversity in helping. “It’s not about the grandness—it’s the sincerity that matters. Everyone can help in their own specific ways,” says Serafico.

As for the survivors, the needs of those facing the brunt of the disaster will not be quick to recede. The affected areas are still far from recovery. However, this can present an opportunity as well as a challenge to Filipinos. “It will take a long time to rebuild structures, but thankfully there is a spirit in most of the survivors we’ve met that prove it is not impossible,” says Guballa.

Efforts like these make use of people’s skills in some of the best ways, revealing the generosity of the human spirit. Velasquez says, “I hope that this experience will help us be more prepared in the future, not just for the basics, but in terms of the whole helping process as well.”

With reports from Kristine Q. Estioko

Editor’s Note: Pia Guballa is a member of The GUIDON’s Photo staff.