Philippines
Philippines: Mark’s Reflection
I did not know what to expect. Just arriving in Barangay Dugui Too on the back of a garbage truck got my heart pumping. Smiles and curious faces greeted us as we arrived at the distribution zone, a rundown basketball court. The children, as in most areas, were the most curious and watched us prepare for the day closely. I asked my self, “What would become of this day?” This was the day that would determine the success or failure in lighting up the lives of Filipinos quite literally.
Philippine Community Overviews
Kalinga and Apayao are provinces in the Philippines which are part of the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR) located in the northern part of Luzon. The largest and most pressing issues in these provinces are education, healthcare, infrastructure, and electricity. Read more about the area’s resources, issues, and environment.
Rebuilding the Philippines
In December 2011, Typhoon Washi swept through the Philippines, claiming two cities in northern Mindanao, and more than 1,200 lives. Flash floods and mudslides washed away entire homes, with residents still inside. On the morning of December 18, the people of Cagayan De Oro found only mud and debris where their villages once stood. 10,000 homes were destroyed, and 60,000 Filipinos were homeless.
Following the typhoon, One Million Lights partnered with disaster relief organizations to send aid. Our team of Philippines ambassadors donated 300 solar lights, which were delivered in January through organization SURE (Solutions Using Renewable Energy) in addition to hundreds of other lights, tents, and water filtration systems.
The Philippines – Villages
Current Philippine projects are in Catanduanes, Eastern Samar, Oriental Mindoro, Rizal, Ifugao, Kalinga, Mountain Province, Ifugao, and Cagayan de Oro. These distribution projects are youth-led by students in Palo Alto, Canada and the Philippines in cooperation with various corporations, schools and rotary clubs. Learn more about the projects and help by donating a light!