2025 has been a year full of natural disasters for the Philippines, including successive earthquakes and typhoons. When Super Typhoon Fung-wong struck the nation on November 9, Tzu Chi volunteers in the Philippines quickly mobilized four days later to assess the Dingalan Municipality in Aurora Province, an area heavily impacted on the eastern coast.
Bringing aid and hope to devastated villages
Within a week of the initial assessment, Tzu Chi volunteers worked with local government and welfare departments to understand the extent of the disaster and identify affected households. Relief supplies were prepared. On November 21, at 3:00 AM, volunteers departed from the Tzu Chi Philippines office, traveling five hours to reach Dingalan Municipality.
Tzu Chi’s distribution reached 632 households across eleven severely affected villages providing essential supplies and cash relief. The relief package included 25 kilograms of rice, eco-friendly blankets, buckets, plates, cups, utensils, slippers, bath towels, underwear, and T-shirts.
Rebuilding lives amidst the rubble
For families whose homes were destroyed, Tzu Chi provided cash relief based on the level of damage. Households received 25,000, 30,000, or 35,000 pesos (approximately USD 440, USD 530, and USD 620) to help subsidize some of the cost for home reconstruction and recovery.
Villagers reported significant damage when the typhoon struck, with storm surges sweeping sand and rocks into homes. They expressed that seeing Tzu Chi volunteers in their "blue and white" uniforms was a source of encouragement, recalling previous aid received three years prior during another typhoon.
Linda Danao, who lived by the sea in Brgy Paltic with her large extended family, evacuated on November 8. On November 10, they found their three homes destroyed by the storm surge. Her son, Harries Danao, took leave from Manila to assist, sifting through debris. He found a green Tzu Chi eco-bag—a relief item from Typhoon Noru three years ago—still containing his daughter’s stationery.
At the distribution, Linda and Harries carried the same Tzu Chi eco-bags from the previous typhoon. They expressed gratitude for Tzu Chi’s consistent support.
Marlyn Baluyot, 42, received aid with her husband and youngest six-year-old son. Her family of five children had sheltered in a school evacuation center. Returning home, they found the roof had been removed by the wind. Marlyn’s husband is a day laborer earning 350 pesos daily. Marlyn supplements their income by selling walis tingting (local brooms) for 25 pesos per kilogram. Despite their struggles, they were grateful to be able to save their valuables during the evacuation.
LEFT: For families whose homes were destroyed, Tzu Chi provided cash relief ranging from PHP 25,000 to PHP 35,000 per household, depending on their circumstances, to help them rebuild and return to normal life as soon as possible. | Photo: Jin Xia Nian. RIGHT: At the distribution site, aid recipient Linda Danao arrived with her son, carrying the same Tzu Chi eco-bag she received after Typhoon Noru three years ago. | Photo: Tzu Chi Philippines Media Team
A volunteer’s enduring spirit
Sonny Cheah (謝思全), a Malaysian volunteer currently serving in the Philippines, first connected with Tzu Chi Philippines in September 2025. On November 13, he joined the assessment team in Dingalan, and after learning about the upcoming distribution, he took leave once again to participate. From dawn to dusk, Hsieh worked tirelessly wherever help was needed. Despite being soaked with sweat and coated in dust, he remained fully dedicated, assisting at the entrance throughout the distribution.
Afterward, he quietly stayed behind to sort cardboard boxes, clean up trash, and help pack materials—never once complaining about the hard work. He shared, “In every act of giving with Tzu Chi, I witness the relief on people’s faces and feel the shared joy of all the volunteers, myself included. I’ll continue to learn and work harder to spread Tzu Chi’s love even further.”
Nature’s warning and a call for action
Mayor Aurora G. Taay of Dingalan Municipality addressed the residents, stressing the importance of Tzu Chi’s donations. She advised them to use the cash relief solely for repairing typhoon-damaged homes. The Mayor also called upon villagers to cherish and protect the Earth, their shared home.
This distribution effort not only brought a beacon of hope to the typhoon-affected communities but also highlighted the shared responsibility of environmental protection.
Written by Rong Hua Yan (顏榮華), Shu-Ren Huang (黃樹人), Aileen Chiu (楊逸萍), Jin Xia Nian (粘金霞)
Source: 鳳凰風災過後愛相伴 發放點燃希望
