As a fisherfolk for most of his life, Pablito Abejuela is used to harsh weather shrinking his family’s earnings. He heads out with his small boat in the morning to catch fish off the coast of Malobago in Dolores, Eastern Samar even when the waves have not been too friendly days before super typhoon Rai (local name: […]

Raquel Villanueva, 68, had doubts when their town’s agriculturist in Milaor sent her a message that a non-governmental organization was ready to give them assistance after Typhoon Rolly (international name: Goni) devastated their town in Camarines Sur province. “Due to past experiences, I did not believe that we were actually going to receive help,” Villanueva […]

Leonida Pacheco got pregnant with her first child in 2010. She was just 17 years old. She ended up dropping out of college to focus on motherhood and was never able to return to her studies after having a total of five children. According to her, family planning never crossed their minds. “My husband wanted […]

In 2017, Asliah and her family lost almost everything in a huge fire that gutted their house and dozens others in Campo Ranao, Marawi City, Lanao del Sur.In 2017, Asliah and her family lost almost everything in a huge fire that gutted their house and dozens others in Campo Ranao, Marawi City, Lanao del Sur. […]

Julie Chenido could think of other important uses for her P25 but it’s an amount she’s willing to contribute to her community organization, especially since the money will be used to ensure the safety of her family and other residents of the island village of San Isidro, in Dolores, Eastern Samar. San Isidro is a […]

When Super Typhoon ‘Haiyan’ (local name: Yolanda) struck the town of Lawaan in Eastern Samar in the early morning of November 8, 2013, the residents of Barangay Guinob-an were shocked not just by the sheer amount of devastation but also the realization that they had nowhere safe to go to. Guinob-an, which faces Leyte Gulf, […]

Juanday and Farhana are childhood best friends who grew up in Guindulungan, Maguindanao. They were classmates from elementary until college, and both were student leaders. Since grade school, Juanday and Farhana witnessed early child and forced marriages and violence against women in their community.  According to the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), in the Philippines, […]

Asma chose to be married at the age of 15, but her mother did not allow her. According to her, she decided to marry her current husband because of love.  “Early marriage is legal to us Muslims. However, I realized that it is difficult to marry and become a mother at an early age, especially […]

Alam namin na hindi madali na makipag-usap sa ating mga magulang at ibang tao pagdating sa sex at kasarian. Kaya naman ngayong World Sexual Health Day, sasagutin namin nang libre ang inyong mga katanungan tungkol sa reproductive health, pakikipag-relasyon, teenage pregnancy at iba pang usapin tungkol sa sex at gender.  Maaari ninyong ipadala ang inyong […]

Oxfam Pilipinas staff joined the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UN OCHA) and other organizations in a tree planting activity in Cotabato City last Thursday to commemorate World Humanitarian Day. The activity emphasized the importance of advocating and acting locally on climate emergency, starting with reclaiming forest cover. It also conveyed […]