Blogs

COVID-19 and the Poverty Pandemic

April 1, 2020

Blog post by Camille AdleMore from Camille Adle Preventing transmission of the COVID-19 disease requires that we consistently exercise proper health and hygiene protocols, both in our homes and in public spaces. Authorities have also advised that we all steer clear of large gatherings, avoid using public transportation, follow “community quarantine” measures, and seek prompt medical […]

Who is caring for our ‘invisible’ carers?

April 1, 2020

Blog post by Mark Vincent AranasMore from Mark Vincent Aranas We need pro-poor and pro-women approaches to hurdle this health, poverty, and inequality crisis. The coronavirus pandemic is exposing one of our greatest weaknesses as a society: the widening gap between the rich and the poor. With no end in sight at the moment, the impact […]

Bridge of peace in Mindanao

August 16, 2019

Blog post by April Ann Abello-Bulanadi Senior Officer for Media and Digital Influencing  More from April Ann Abello-Bulanadi With or without emergencies, Noraida Abo seldom stays at the office of the United Youth of the Philippines-Women (UnYPhil-Women), a local women’s rights organization she currently heads in the southern region of the Philippines.  She prefers the outdoors where she experiences first hand the complex realities of the Bangsamoro people in Mindanao.  The Bangsamoro have been experiencing armed conflict for more than five decades now. Noraida personally witnessed this throughout her 48 years of […]

Recognizing Women’s Roles in the Frontlines

August 14, 2019

In 2003, Oxfam in the Philippines carried out a gender audit among its partners to assess the extent to which gender equality is effectively institutionalized in the policies, structures, decision-making, and budgets. Some time thereafter, when Pampanga Disaster Risk Reduction Network (PDRRN) needed recruit a project assistant, they decided that they would be offering the […]

Planet Earth: Endgame?

June 7, 2019

Blog post by Luigi Toda Climate Change Adaptation and Risk Reduction Advisor More from Luigi Toda Fresh from Earth Day, here’s food for thought: our celebrations could be numbered because our planet is on the brink of irreversible collapse due to rapid and unregulated human activities. To borrow from the plot of the popular comic book […]

Embracing Community Organizing

April 16, 2019

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 […]

Yolanda on my mind: the odyssey of a humanitarian worker

November 8, 2018

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 […]

Breaking the Cycle Together

August 22, 2018

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 […]

Passing on the Gift

August 15, 2018

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 […]

Financial Inclusion an Important Enabler for the Recovery of Marawi

May 24, 2018

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 […]