Blog post by April Abello-Bulanadi More from April Abello-Bulanadi Mobilizing communities to claim their rights in a humanitarian crisis is not easy. It becomes even more difficult in the context of armed conflict. But nothing is going to stop humanitarian workers like Elizabeth Gallardo from getting work done.    From the very start, Elizabeth knew her heart is made for humanitarian work. This is why she pursued a degree in social work despite her father’s disapproval. He wanted […]

Blog post by Dante DalabajanMore from Dante Dalabajan Humanitarian workers are regularly confronted by difficult choices. What humanitarian worker worth his or her salt has not been confronted by the possibility of either doing harm or doing nothing; or was stuck in a situation where good intentions are not enough in the face of bad or […]

Blog post by Catherine GordoMore from Catherine Gordo When relief goods are used as dowry for young Maranao girls and when their decisions are largely influenced by their desire to feed their families – rights, poverty, and cultural practices intersect.  After writing that opening statement, I asked my 13-year-old daughter to read it out loud and see if I’m making […]

Blog post by April Abello-Bulanadi More from April Abello-Bulanadi Meet Alma Rosete, an inspiring woman from one of the communities in BIliran province, which was hit by Tropical Storm Urduja (Kai-tak) in December 2017. Six months after the storm, Biliran and its people, including Alma, are still recovering from the devastation. With farming as their main source […]

Blog post by Oxfam PilipinasMore from Oxfam Pilipinas A year after armed conflict broke out in Marawi City, the pursuit of recovery remains a long-term endeavor. Around 230,000 people, who are mostly small traders and vendors, remain displaced and are still struggling to recover their lost properties and livelihoods. In the Autonomous Region for Muslim Mindanao […]

Blog post by Oxfam PilipinasMore from Oxfam Pilipinas Blog by Christelle Delvo, Initiatives for Dialogue and Empowerment through Alternative Legal Services Inc. (IDEALS Inc.)  For 10 years, Sowaib Umambao, 44, and his wife ran the eatery in the transport terminal in barangay Lilod Madaya in Marawi City where they alternated in grocery, cooking and cashier duties to […]

Blog post by Oxfam PilipinasMore from Oxfam Pilipinas Ahmed* is seven. His father Zaldy* said the boy is fond of lamps that each night in their house in barangay Lilod, Marawi City, Ahmed always wanted the LED lights turned off so he can have the soft glow of the lamp when he does his homework or […]

Blog post by Oxfam PilipinasMore from Oxfam Pilipinas Kalilintad, kapamagogopa, katahimikan, peace. When internally displaced persons (IDPs) from Marawi City examined their notions of peace, they had many words for it, but seeing that they are in evacuation centers instead of their home city gave away the truth that peace is elusive in Mindanao. Around 27,000 IDPs in […]

Blog post by Oxfam PilipinasMore from Oxfam Pilipinas Blog contribution by Christelle Delvo, Initiatives for Dialogue and Empowerment through Alternative Legal Services, Inc. (IDEALS, Inc.) Bairona Langco, a 44-year-old mother of five, was born in Marawi City and has lived there her whole life. The longest time she’s been away was spent the past three months at […]

Blog post by Anefel Granada Deputy Response Manager, HRC Marawi More from Anefel Granada   “I am happy because my child received things that she needed. But what we urgently need now is livelihood for my husband and cash to buy milk and food, as we are just dependent on relief.” When I heard Sitinor say […]