Two weeks after Taal volcano’s eruption, displaced families are still coping with the trauma and ill effects of the calamity in their homes and livelihood. Thanks to the generosity of our people at DDB Group Philippines, we were able to share, in our own simple way, our love and blessings to bring cheer to our unfortunate brothers and sisters affected by this natural disaster.
DDB Cares volunteers and trucks carrying relief goods recently trooped to the evacuation centers in Batangas City and the towns of San Jose and Cuenca in Batangas province, the hometowns of DDB employees, Ripple8’s Chio Jolo-Pilande and Debbie Comia, respectively. Said city and municipalities have taken in evacuees from Lemery, Taal Island, and other areas within PHILVOCS’s 14-km danger zone that were worst hit by the volcanic explosion.
The DDB Cares team was able to distribute a few hundred packs of relief goods that included drinking water, canned goods, hygiene kits, blankets, detergents, as well as bucket-and-dipper sets.
Our first stop was at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Bgy. Kumintang Ibaba, Batangas City that is host to 60 families or 200 individuals including children. The team then went to the Bulwagan San Jose or basketball auditorium in the municipality of San Jose, Batangas with 33 families, and another in-house evacuation center also in San Jose with 18 families.
DDB Cares’ next stop was the Barangay Hall in Emmanuel, Cuenca, Batangas where the team was able to distribute more relief packs for 50 families, and also went to distribute goods to the nearby in-house evacuation center with six families. Last but not the least, the team went to Cuenca National High School and was able to bring relief goods to more families.
Before leaving Batangas, DDB Cares also chose random persons along the road to give the remaining relief goods, leaving big smiles on the faces of the surprised beneficiaries.
