It takes a village... (updated again, 6:36 pm, Oct. 5)

At the offices of many civic groups and private organizations, hundreds of people showed up to volunteer in packing relief goods or going to evacuation centers to help distribute care packages. At the Tulong Bayan center at the Expo Centro in Cubao, it was heartwarming to note that most of the volunteers were adolescents as young as 10 years old, along with their kuya or ate in high school and college. Many of these kids, as you know, would normally spend their time away from school hanging out at the mall.

They came in huge numbers, many of them barkadas, classmates or siblings, dressed just in their tees and shorts, wearing their Havaianas. All were just enthusiastic to do their share! (Click Something Like Life, BusinessMirror, Oct. 2, 2009 for the rest.)

(Even grade school kids pitched in to help! According to singer/activist Leah Navarro, there were so many volunteers at Tulong Bayan's centers in Cubao and White Space, Pasong Tamo Ext., others were asked to return at later schedules. PHOTOS BY LEAH NAVARRO)

(Volunteers of Tulong Bayan unpack cartons of biscuits.)

(Pass it on, guys. Youth volunteers at the Expo Centro in Cubao move the relief goods for loading into a flatbed truck.)

UPDATED ANNOUNCEMENT (10/05/09): Tulong Bayan has closed its Cubao operations but its operations at White Space, Pasong Tamo Ext., Makati City, continues. Volunteers are most welcome. Donations too of course! Aside from food, we need slippers, underwear for men women and children, basic medicines (paracetamol, anti-diarrhea, disinfectants, etc.), toothpaste and toothbrush, etc. Thank you!

ANNOUNCEMENT 2: For other relief centers needing volunteers, click BayanihanOnline. Thanks!

Here are some photos I took at Tulong Bayan center in Cubao last Thursday, Oct. 2:

(Bags of relief goods for distribution this weekend.)

(Cardboard cartons as beds for the flood victims.)

(Here's how the bed looks up close. It includes a blanket to keep warm.)

(Youth volunteers repack detergents for distribution to evacuation centers.)

ALSO, on Sunday afternoon, Oct. 4:

(More relief goods for distribution, Oct. 4)

(Unpacking biscuits for donations.)

(Making the beds from carton boxes.)


(Sacks of rice to be transported to White Space, where Tulong Bayan's relief efforts continue until Thursday, Oct. 8)

(Boxes of canned tuna on their way to White Space too.)