Philippines: Despite their own losses, volunteers kept showing up to help others
When six typhoons roared through the Philippines late last year, it was the Philippine Red Cross volunteers who showed up time and time again. Typhoon Kristine was the first to arrive, pounding communities with months of rainfall in just two days, triggering catastrophic landslides and submerging entire neighbourhoods.Barely had the storm passed when another hit, and then another. Typhoons Leon, Marce, Nika, Ofel, and Pepito (all in local names) struck within days of each other, wiping out homes, possessions, and livelihoods.And as soon as there was access, Philippine Red Cross volunteers sprang into action. Equipped with boats and ropes, they started search and rescue efforts, pulling people to safety. Then, as people headed to evacuation centres, they served hot meals, provided clean water, conducted health checks, and offered psychosocial support to those overwhelmed by their losses.Many of the local volunteers and their families were themselves affected by the destruction, and after days and weeks of response, the level of exhaustion was beyond what anyone expected. And yet, they kept turning up day after day for their shifts.Ready to actOne of those volunteers was James Bryan Asma, a 22-year-old nursing student from Naga City. When Typhoon Kristine struck, James and fellow volunteers were already at the Camarines Sur chapter office, monitoring the weather.“It was raining. But we thought, ‘It's just rain, we are used to it,’ ” he recalls. “But it didn't stop.”When floodwaters rose to dangerous levels, James joined rescue missions around the town.“The highlight was saving a two-month-old baby,” he shares. “A grandmother approached us, desperate for help for her child and grandchild. We navigated through floodwaters to reach their home. To escape, the family climbed out of a small window and onto the roof, where we brought them to safety on our boat.”The rescue operations took days as floodwaters did not recede. Later on, James continued to support people at evacuation centres with information on how to stay safe from diseases and infections.Turning up every day, despite his own exhaustion, came at a cost for James. His family’s house and his university dorm were flooded, leaving him with a lingering sense of guilt for not being able to do more for his loved ones and friends. Fatigue hit hard, too.“I saw it in myself, and also in my co-volunteers that they are very exhausted. Our routine of operations every day, traveling far with barely any sleep —it's very tiring.”Despite the physical toll, James found joy in the gratitude of the people they helped. “Seeing their faces light up and hearing their thanks motivates me,” he said. “It uplifts their dignity and reminds me why I volunteer.”Providing health care around the clock For Leonard Ivan Barilla, a 38-year-old nurse and veteran Red Cross volunteer, Typhoon Kristine was a call to action. Week after week, he turned up everyday at the evacuation centre to help with health checks and hygiene promotion, only to head home for a few short hours sleep before his night shift at the hospital.“I only slept for four hours before going to the field,” Leonard explains. “My shift with the Red Cross was from 8 am to 5 pm. And then my work in the hospital was from 11 pm until 7 am in the morning. I did this schedule for one month during the height of the response for Typhoon Kristine.”“I checked vital signs, treated fungal infections and wounds, and provided medicine for high blood pressure, fever, and other ailments. Many seniors had lost their prescriptions, so we brought medicines to them from the provincial health office.”Leonard also focused on hygiene promotion to prevent diseases in the evacuation centres. “We taught people about handwashing, provided hygiene kits with soap, toothpaste, and towels, and distributed disinfectants,” he said. “We even implemented measures to prevent dengue by cleaning stagnant water and fogging affected areas.”Leonard’s dedication extended beyond medical care. “Every day, we travelled to remote areas, sometimes seeing 20 to 30 people,” he shared. “I always asked, ‘What do you need?’ before giving medicine. It wasn’t just about treatment—it was about understanding and addressing their root problems.”Despite the challenges and exhaustion after weeks of response, both volunteers expressed unwavering dedication. “We’ve built a family among the volunteers,” James explained. “It’s what keeps us going, even when we’re exhausted.”For both volunteers, their experiences underscore the transformative power of volunteerism. “This was my first time being deployed in a typhoon,” James said. “It showed me the depth of the Red Cross community and its commitment to helping people—not for politics or show, but to truly make a difference.”