Kalinga, Philippines – “It has become a practice in our community that every household member would collect water every morning. Even older women join in by fetching 10 to 20 liters of water lifted in one container on the head and one in each hand. Now, with a potable water source located near our village, residents need not travel far,...
Optimism Still Grows in Balbalan
Kalinga, Philippines – Hernan Gangot, 50, a local farmer and the chairman of people’s organization in Brgy. Poswoy in the Municipality of Balbalan, in the province of Kalinga, looks problematic yet calm. Despite being troubled by the previous typhoon, Hernan remains hopeful. His skin was almost toasted by the sun, as he spent his entire life enduring the backbreaking work...
A young mother’s struggle
Jesabel Alvarez is just one of the many residents in Adia, Agoncillo who are still struggling from the damages left by the Taal volcano eruption. Her family is once again in the face of another crisis brought by the COVID-19 pandemic. It was a normal Sunday afternoon when the family started receiving messages that Taal volcano is spewing ashes. With...
Maribel’s Story
Maribel Alcontin, 37 years old, is a survivor of the Taal volcanic eruption. She is now one of the many residents who were recently put under Enhanced Community Quarantine because of COVID-19. With their proximity to the volcano, they were able to see the sudden spew of ash that signaled the unanticipated eruption of Taal volcano on January 12. They...