In Northern Cebu, an island province in the Philippines, communities were steadily picking up the pieces from September’s catastrophic earthquake when they were hit again, this time by the force of a Category 4 storm.
Typhoon Kalmaegi (locally known as Tino) battered Cebu with severe winds and rainfall that triggered landslides, damaged homes, and cut off power and communication lines across the region. For thousands of people still displaced from their homes since September, it was a disaster on top of a disaster.
Our All Hands & Hearts team has been on the ground in Cebu since the earthquake, constructing 30 emergency shelters for families whose homes were destroyed in September.
When the winds finally eased, the newly built emergency shelters had held strong. Families who had been living in tents through weeks of rain and aftershocks were able to stay safe and dry through the storm. One community member, whose home was destroyed by the earthquake, shared how much it meant to have a roof over her head when the typhoon hit.
Despite power outages across Northern Cebu, our team quickly reopened the base, using our generator to help the community charge phones and flashlights as they reconnected with loved ones. The following morning, our staff mobilized to assess the damage and identify where help was needed most.
Clearing the Way for Recovery
In the days that followed, our focus turned to supporting communities as they began the difficult task of cleanup. Our team, alongside volunteers from Bogo City, arrived at the barangay of Cabadiangan in Liloan, one of the hardest-hit areas after the storm.
We distributed cleanup kits, including buckets, shovels, wheelbarrows, boots, masks, and gloves, and cleared thick mud from the barangay basketball court. This would become a central covered space that the community uses to store and distribute donations from local authorities and partner organizations.
From there, the team moved to a local chapel, joining residents already hard at work shoveling mud. Together, they cleared the space completely by day’s end.
Rebuilding Amid New Challenges
Even as we responded to Typhoon Kalmaegi, our shelter construction work remains in full swing. After a short delay caused by the storm, our team has completed another emergency shelter and resumed work across multiple sites by laying foundations, installing Amakan walls and roofing, and fabricating doors and windows.
We are now active across 17 sites, building momentum as families prepare for what is expected to be another difficult typhoon season.
Another Storm Has Hit
While our teams in Cebu continue recovery efforts, Typhoon Fung Wong (Uwan) has struck the eastern Philippines, causing widespread evacuations in Catanduanes and cutting off access to several communities. Our staff are already coordinating with local authorities to assess the damage, reach isolated areas, and distribute food and essential supplies.
Make a Difference
From earthquakes to back-to-back typhoons, the Philippines has faced one disaster after another, but through it all, communities continue to show extraordinary resilience. And wherever families need support, All Hands & Hearts will be there to stand side by side with those affected every step of the way.
Thank you for standing with communities in their greatest time of need.
