A Decade Apart, One Mission: To Bring Hope Back to Guinsolungan

Twelve years ago, in the aftermath of Typhoon Yolanda, we traveled north to Daanbantayan, Cebu — to a small but spirited school called Guinsolungan Elementary School. Back then, we brought relief goods and a message of hope to families and students who had lost so much. We didn’t know that more than a decade later, we’d find ourselves returning — not out of nostalgia, but out of the same call to lend a hand once again.

This November 2, 2025, we revisited Guinsolungan Elementary School, this time after a magnitude 6.0 quake struck Northern Cebu. The school sustained partial structural damage, forcing teachers and students to continue modular learning until the classrooms are inspected and declared safe. Despite the cracks on the walls and uncertainty in their daily routine, the smiles of the children remained as bright as ever.

We distributed school supplies to all learners from Kinder to Grade 6, as well as the nine teachers who continue to guide and nurture them through these difficult times. In total, the outreach reached 90 students and teachers. Alongside the school materials, we also provided grocery packs, as requested by the teachers — to help their families prepare for the brewing Typhoon Tino, which made landfall the very next day.

But the reality outside the school gates paints an even broader picture of resilience.
According to Barangay Captain Rosalie Ricardo of Barangay Oaypay, where Guinsolungan Elementary School is located, there are 1,050 families in the barangay. Of these, 1,011 homes were partially damaged, while 42 were totally destroyed by the quake. Many families are still living in tents outside their homes, afraid to sleep indoors as aftershocks continue to rattle the area every now and then.

Yet even with the fear and uncertainty, what we witnessed that day was not despair — but determination. Teachers greeted us with gratitude and warmth. Students excitedly flipped through their new notebooks and held on to their pencils like new treasures. Parents stood by, quietly watching, their faces softening into smiles.

It was a full circle moment — to return to the same community we first met in the shadows of Typhoon Yolanda, and see that through every disaster, their strength endures.

We are deeply grateful to our partners and donors who made this outreach possible — Cebu Creators Circle, The Boholano Network from Ireland, Sabado Sessions from Norway, and everyone who extended their generosity to help our learners in the rural areas of Cebu.

Your kindness has traveled far and wide — from Cebu to Ireland and Norway — proving that compassion truly knows no borders.

Our visit to Guinsolungan Elementary School was a reminder that rebuilding isn’t just about repairing walls and roofs — it’s about uplifting spirits, supporting education, and showing that even after the strongest storms and quakes, hope will always find its way back.