Authors posts

Recognizing Women's Roles in the Frontlines

"There are a lot of innovations now about how you can provide better aid like digital cash programming, and the likes. The needs and context are ever evolving but one must never forget the very essence of humanitarian work – to uphold people’s dignity, especially women. Whatever you do, when you do...

Planet Earth: Endgame?

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 movie showing in local theaters near you, joining forces to...

Yolanda on my mind: the odyssey of a humanitarian worker

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 worse options?...

Breaking the Cycle Together

Oxfam’s work in the country, particularly in Mindanao is focused on empowering women and girls. In partnership with local and national organizations, we support women’s economic empowerment and innovate ways to end violence against women and girls. We also seek to improve access to information and...

Passing on the Gift

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. In photo, she shows her PayMaya prepaid card , where the cash assistance is disbursed during the Urduja response. Photo: Genevive Estacaan / Oxfam

Hassan purchases using the iAFFORD PayMaya prepaid card

Financial Inclusion an Important Enabler for the Recovery of Marawi

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.

Going Digital: Making financial services accessible to rural areas

In a covered court in the middle of a rice field in Tacloban City, Philippines, cooperative banker-development worker Ramil Boniel is helping Oxfam award insurance plans to families, many of whom were displaced by Super Typhoon Yolanda in 2013. The insurance plans are incentives for members who...

Working and hoping in an uncertain tomorrow

For 10 years, Sowaib and his wife ran an eatery in the transport terminal in barangay Lilod Madaya in Marawi City. When the war erupted, he was mistaken for a member of the Maute group and was shot in the arm. Now, living in an evacuation center, Sowaib finds a way to cope and carve a future for...

Ahmed and his solar lamp that beckons home

Ahmed is seven. His father Zaldy said the boy is fond of lamps that each night in their house in barangay Lilod, Marawi City, Ahmed always wanted the LED lights turned off so he can have the soft glow of the lamp when he does his homework or read something before he sleeps.

Children participate in a psychosocial support session in Saguairan, Lanao del Sur

Building peace in a culture of nonviolence

Kalilintad, kapamagogopa, katahimikan, peace. When internally displaced persons (IDPs) from Marawi City examined their notions of peace, they had many words for it, but seeing that they are in evacuation centers instead of their home city gave away the truth that peace is elusive in Mindanao.

The future is equal