Registration opens for sixth Asia-Pacific Housing Forum

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Various stakeholders in the housing sector are coming together for the 6th Asia Pacific Housing Forum (APHF6) organized by Habitat for Humanity Philippines to be held on July 25-26, 2017 at Novotel Hotel in Quezon City, to discuss the growing challenges of urbanization and diminishing resources for human settlements, as well as share best practices to ensure that no one would be without roofs over their heads.

The APHF6 with the theme “Housing at the Center” will serve as an Urban Thinkers Campus under the UN Habitat’s World Urban Campaign. 

The Urban Thinkers Campus is an initiative of UN-Habitat conceived as an open space for critical exchange between urban researchers, professionals, and decision-makers who believe that urbanization is an opportunity and can lead to a positive transformation. The agenda of APHF6 is also in line with the United Nations Conference on Housing and Sustainable Urban Development (Habitat III), which was recently held in Quito, Ecuador. 

The two-days forum has enlisted veritable thought leaders in the housing sector across the region as speakers and panel resource persons to share their insights and jointly analyze problems besetting each country and how some have successfully licked the homelessness situation in the urbanizing centers.

“As a collective group, advocating and relentlessly pursuing a single purpose of totally eliminating poverty housing in the Philippines, we can do a lot. It is not an impossible dream because it has been done in other countries at a time when they were still developing. There are successful models in other countries where the poor were given a chance to break the cycle of poverty by providing them a decent, affordable home which become a platform for their development,” said Charlie S. Ayco, CEO, Habitat for Humanity Philippines.

The two (2) days program with an anticipated attendance of 500 multi-sector thought leaders and stakeholders in housing will focus on four themes/tracks: 

Technology for affordable housing: 

Presenting the latest technologies that can bring social good, ranging from construction materials to satellite mapping methodologies and web applications.

Innovative partnerships: 

Highlighting the potential or multi-level partnerships in achieving goals related to poverty alleviation and the provision of affordable housing in the Asia-Pacific region.

Resilience and social development: 

Focusing on how affordable housing can lift entire communities out of poverty, protecting people from natural disasters and generating livelihoods.

Sustainable urbanization and housing: 

Discussing the implementation of the New Urban Agenda which serves as the roadmap for global sustainable urban development in the next 20 years as well as initiatives that focus on housing as central to proper urban development.

To register and get more information on the program and speakers, visit aphousingforum.ph. 

About the Asia-Pacific Housing Forum

The Asia-Pacific Housing Forum is a biennial conference organized by Habitat for Humanity. Since it was first held in 2007, the event has brought together more than 3,400 participants from over 52 countries. In 2017, the 6th Housing Forum will be held from September 4-7 in Hong Kong. It will bring together major stakeholders engaged in seeking solutions to the issues of inadequate housing and promoting affordable housing as a driver for economic growth. Preliminary events will be held in Cambodia, India, Indonesia and the Philippines. 

About Habitat for Humanity

Driven by the vision that everyone needs a decent place to live, Habitat for Humanity began in 1976 as a grassroots effort. The Christian housing organization has become a leading global nonprofit working in nearly 70 countries. In the Philippines since 1988, Habitat for Humanity has supported more than 140,000 people to build or improve a place they can call home. Through financial support, volunteering or adding a voice to support affordable housing, everyone can help families achieve the strength, stability and self-reliance they need to build better lives for themselves. Through shelter, we empower. To learn more, donate or volunteer, visit habitat.org.ph.

Selfless selfies for Habitat for Humanity: top five global brand Vivo turns insta-hearts to insta-donations

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Charisma Buan and Christian Jocson, Vivo brand executives, Annie Lim, Vivo brand director and Nelson Perez, Vivo digital specialist hand over proceeds from its Vivo Perfect Selfie Cup to Francis Hussein Mamasabulod, Habitat for Humanity partnership manager, and Rowena Kakilala, Habitat for Humanity individual giving manager. 

After the first ever #VivoPerfectSelfieCup, top five premium global smartphone brand Vivo¹ fulfilled its promise: donating all proceeds of the promo (a total of Php 101,980) Habitat for Humanity Philippines, a non-profit housing organization tacking poverty by building and renovating homes for families in need.

(L-R) Vivo brand executives Charisma Buan and Christian Jocson, Vivo brand director Annie Lim, Habitat for Humanity partnership manager Francis Hussein Mamasabulod, Habitat for Humanity individual giving manager, Rowena Kakilala and Vivo digital specialist Nelson Perez pose for a photo after Vivo gave its donation to Habitat for Humanity.

Vivo brand director Annie Lim and Vivo brand executive Christian Jocson handed over the donation to Francis Hussein Mamasabulod, Habitat for Humanity Philippines partnership manager, and Rowena Kakilala, Habitat for Humanity Philippines individual giving manager last March 22 at the non-profit organization’s headquarters in Makati City. 

Also present in the event were Vivo brand executive Charisma Buan, Vivo digital specialist Nelson Perez, Habitat for Humanity Philippines individual giving officer Tricia Abrigo and Habitat for Humanity Philippines direct marketing officer Mateo Bautista.

(L-R) Tricia Abrigo, Habitat individual giving officer, Annie Lim, Vivo brand director, Francis Hussein Mamasabulod, Habitat for Humanity partnership manager, Mateo Bautista, Habitat for Humanity direct marketing officer, Christian Jocson, Vivo brand executive and Rowena Kakilala, Habitat for Humanity individual giving manager.

In the #VivoPerfectSelfieCup, celebrities battled it out with a goal of garnering the most number of likes for their perfect selfies. 

Selfies of Yeng Constantino, Erich Gonzales, Jessy Mendiola, Enchong Dee, Andrea Brillantes, Jane Oineza, Sue Ramirez, Miles Ocampo, Maris Racal, and Loisa Andallo were posted in the Vivo Philippines Instagram account (@vivophil), captured with the brand’s newest flagship phone, the V5 Plus, equipped with the world’s first 20-megapixel dual front camera and the most advanced selfie technology to date. 

These selfless stars asked netizens to like their selfies on the Vivo Instagram page (@vivophil), with every vote equivalent to a one peso donation to Habitat for Humanity Philippines. 

Teen star Andrea Brillantes emerged as the Vivo Perfect Selfie cup winner, with a total of 18,848 likes. 

Although only one star emerged as the triumphant #VivoPerfectSelfieCup victor, every like for each celebrity photo was converted into one peso, raising Php 101,980, all given to Habitat for Humanity Philippines. 

Annie Lim, Vivo Philippines brand director, expressed her gratitude to all the participants in the #VivoPerfectSelfieCup. “Vivo thanks everyone who joined our contest. Above all else, our brand always aims to help Filipinos have a better life and through participating, we gave hope to homeless families in the country,” she said. 

Aside from the donation to Habitat for Humanity Philippines, Vivo also awarded brand new Vivo V5 Plus phones to ten lucky likers. 

For inquiries about Vivo V5 Plus, visit the Vivo website at vivo.com/ph, 

or check out their Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/VivoPhil), 

Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/vivophil/) 

and Twitter (https://twitter.com/vivo_phil) accounts.

¹according to International Data Corporation (IDC) Worldwide Quarterly Mobile Phone Tracker (http://www.idc.com/promo/smartphone-market-share/vendor;jsessionid=7595C1498F4F0FBF496CC767E273121B)

Thousands of youth in Philippines to join regional Habitat for Humanity Young Leaders Build campaign

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Annual campaign rallies young people to speak out, raise funds and build decent homes

Housing organization, Habitat for Humanity Philippines (HFHP), announces today its 2017 launch of Young Leaders Build. The campaign is Habitat’s largest youth movement in the Asia-Pacific region. Organized for the sixth consecutive year, the regional campaign is driven by dynamic and socially responsible youth to ensure decent housing for all in a region where one in eight people live in slums, according to the United Nations. 

The Philippines is currently facing a housing crisis with 5.5 million Filipino families lacking access to their own safe, decent home. 

“At Habitat, we aim to serve these families in need by partnering with others to build better communities, and a better nation – together. We believe the best way to face this crisis is work alongside the next generation of empowered youth leaders who are socially conscious and energetic to volunteer, fundraise and advocate for poverty alleviation,” Charlie Ayco, HFHP Managing Director and CEO said. 

HFHP has engaged more than 1.2 million volunteers in the past fiscal year, which garnered more than 2.5 million volunteer hours and the organization looks forward to engaging even more youth volunteers through the Young Leaders Build campaign in the coming months. 

The Young Leaders Build was first pioneered more than a decade ago by Alexandra Eduque, Founder and Chairwoman of the Habitat Youth Council, who kick-started the project as a national effort. Now, due to the campaign’s successes, it is now a global youth movement. 

“We look forward to this years Young Leaders Build to be more empowering to the youth and more transforming for the families and communities we serve,” Ayco added. 

In the coming months, youth, celebrities, schools and corporate supporters will volunteer, raise funds and lend their voices to help families achieve the strength, stability and self-reliance they need to build better lives for themselves. Events planned across the region include workshops, rallies, runs, volunteer trips, a youth forum, an advocacy grant program and a Twitter party.

The multi-month Young Leaders Build campaign will culminate on 22 April 2017 with thousands of young people taking part in simultaneous activities across Asia-Pacific. These include house building, school cleaning, fundraising events, and advocating for decent housing on social media.

The campaign in the past year (2016 campaign video link) saw a record 2,448,914 supporters from 16 countries and one Special Administrative Region in the Asia-Pacific region. Volunteers worked on 420 houses, and served 7,620 families. The campaign raised US$ 1.6 million to enable families to have a decent place to live. 

Join the Habitat Young Leaders Build community on Facebook bit.ly/HabitatYLB.
Post on social media with the hashtag #HabitatYLB. Follow on Instagram @HabitatYLB.

About Habitat for Humanity Young Leaders Build

Habitat for Humanity Young Leaders Build brings together youth from across the Asia-Pacific region in support of affordable housing for everyone. Young people volunteer, fundraise and lend their voices to help families achieve the strength, stability and self-reliance they need to build better lives for themselves. The campaign motivates youth to take the lead in building homes and communities, on a Habitat build site and/or online through their social networks.

About Habitat for Humanity Philippines 

Driven by the vision that everyone needs a decent place to live, Habitat for Humanity began in 1976 as a grassroots effort. The Christian housing organization has become a leading global nonprofit working in nearly 70 countries. In the Philippines since 1988, Habitat for Humanity has supported more than 140,000 people to build or improve a place they can call home. Through financial support, volunteering or adding a voice to support affordable housing, everyone can help families achieve the strength, stability and self-reliance they need to build better lives for themselves. Through shelter, we empower.

To learn more, donate or volunteer, visit www.habitat.org.ph.

Habitat launches "The Plus Can Project" with ambassador Derek Ramsay

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Habitat for Humanity Philippines (Habitat) has launched its latest initiative: ‘The Plus Can Project’, alongside the organization’s celebrity Ambassador, Derek Ramsay, last August 3 at the Habitat national office.

Derek Ramsay

“The Plus Can means more homes for the homeless, more decent shelter for survivors of disaster, more permanent dwellings for the displaced and more productive communities for our nation. “It is also a reminder that we are all part of a larger family — the Filipino family.” - - - Derek Ramsay

Unlike an ordinary donation drive can, the Plus Can has a unique coin slot in the shape of a plus sign (+), illustrating that by getting involved everyone can be a ‘plus’ to humanity.

This latest fundraising project of Habitat aims to encourage more support towards the housing advocacy in improving the poverty housing situation of the country.

“There is a housing backlog of more than five million families in the Philippines, and in order for this to be addressed everyone needs to take action,” Charlie Ayco, Habitat’s Managing Director and CEO said.

 “The Plus Can is one way Habitat aims to reach individuals from all sectors to support our advocacy of building more healthy and sustainable homes for families in need.”

To show your support and for information on how to get a Habitat Plus Can of your own, please visit: www.pluscanproject.org.

“A day of smiles” - Alden Richards imparts values to Habitat Community

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Alden Richards, Habitat for Humanity Philippines Ambassador, spent time with home partner children to teach them values formation through a storytelling activity dubbed, “A day of smiles”. 

Last January 29 with Alden, full of smiles it was with the children surprised and overwhelmed with joy to see their admired celebrity spend time with them despite his busy schedule. 

One fortunate Habitat home partner family was even personally visited by Alden himself in their home; sharing stories and time about their previous living conditions and how their life has improved since moving into their new home. 

“More than an obligation, it’s what I want to do, especially every January, during my birthday. It’s a way of giving back to the people,” Alden explains. 

 “I feel happy every time I get an opportunity to help others. Nandito kasi heart ko, whenever I help sa mga nangangailangan.” 

“It’s my first time to do storytelling... [When you see] The kids listening and see them smile, in the midst of all the stress of every day, it’s the least that we can do to give them a light moment (Sic),” he adds. 

When asked what he gets out of it, he said that “It makes me more of a person, the real Alden, a real human being (Sic). It’s a break from all the showbiz and our busy schedule. At least an hour or two with the Habitat families, nakaka-eject ako for [a while]. I can be a volunteer, I can help people.”

Adding more delight to the community and making them feel more loved, Alden treated the children and their parents to McDonald’s meals. 

The Habitat community known as “Bistekville 1” in Bgy. Payatas, Quezon City, is home to more than 250 families who were previously living in unsafe informal settlements and doubling-up in rental housing. 

This time last year, Alden also held his “Birthday Build” in the same community to celebrate by sharing with others – volunteering his time to build homes.

“Alden’s support to our advocacy is truly admirable. He has dedicated time, energy and resources to helping his fellow Filipino brothers and sisters in need,” Charlie Ayco, Managing Director and CEO of Habitat Philippines said.

“His generosity is an example to all of us in how we can help build a better Philippines.”

Build Hope this Christmas with Habitat’s “Pamaskong Handog”

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This Christmas, thousands of families will be celebrating in evacuation sites and temporary shelters because of recent calamities that struck the country. Amidst the busyness of the holiday season, Habitat for Humanity Philippines (Habitat) is committed to building their homes and bringing hope in disaster affected communities.

Habitat’s annual Christmas program “Pamaskong Handog” (Christmas offering) inspires the public to give back to our fellow Filipinos in need during this season of giving. Companies and organizations can set aside some funds from their Christmas party budget, or gather voluntary contribution among members which will help ongoing rehabilitation efforts in various areas nationwide. In appreciation of their generosity, Habitat will match every P1000 donation with a Noche Buena pack to be shared with its assisted family under the donor’s name.

“This season is the best opportunity to show that a little help goes a long way for a family who would like Christmas a bit more special.” Charlie Ayco, CEO and Managing Director of Habitat explains. 

More than just giving Noche Buena packs, Pamaskong Handog is really about rekindling hope among numerous families’ who slowly rebuild and improve their lives when they move to their new home. 

“Like Jesus Christ who was born in a humble shelter, he was able to inspire hope to a vast majority of people. Together with our donors, would also like to lead by example and demonstrate the love of Christ through this program”, Ayco adds. 

For more information on how to partner, kindly contact our Mass Marketing Unit at 846-2177 or email donorservices@habitat.org.ph. 

You may also visit www. www.give2habitat.org/philippines/pamaskonghandog and learn more about the on-going program.

7-Eleven and Habitat Philippines to build homes and schools for Yolanda-affected families in Culion, Palawan

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7-Eleven partner with Habitat for Humanity. With a commitment that will build 160 homes and 2 schools in Yolanda affected indigenous community in Culion, Palawan, Jose Victor P. Paterno, Philippine Seven Corporation President/CEO & Director (2nd from right) also signify its support to Habitat Vision 2020 and advocacy program to address poverty housing solutions. Photo shows Habitat for Humanity Philippines CEO and Managing Director Charlie Ayco (3rd from left) with Chief Marketing Officer Yvonne Lih, Donor Management Head Arlene Ramirez and Director of Communications Gina Virtusio.

After Super Typhoon Yolanda (international name: Haiyan) levelled their province, some 150 families in Culion, Palawan will finally have the opportunity to rebuild their lives, as 7-Eleven Japan Co. Ltd. and PhilSeven Foundation Inc. (PFI) committed to provide them with new decent homes, in partnership with Habitat for Humanity Philippines (HFHP). 

Families of Barangay de Carabao will be able to sleep soundly with the promise of 160 new environment-friendly, disaster-resilient homes. On top of shelter, the community will also be given two school buildings, which can accommodate up to 140 students, and doubles as evacuation centers in case of calamities.

Barangay de Carabao is located in the island of Culion, at the northern part of Palawan province, where there was virtually no media exposure of the destruction Yolanda dealt the province in 2013.

“The funds generated together by 7-Eleven Japan Co. Ltd.’s and PhilSeven Foundation Inc. aims to help communities, most especially in far-flung areas, significantly alleviating poverty and improve children’s education,” said Jose Victor Paterno, Chairman of PFI. “Through this assistance program, indigenous families whose only source of livelihood are farming and fishing in Culion are provided with the means to uplift their quality of life.”

The Barangay de Carabao rebuilding project is set to begin by January 2016, and is projected to be completed by the end of the same year.

For HFHP’s part, Managing Director and CEO Charlie Ayco said, “We are thankful to 7-Eleven Japan and PFI for partnering with us and heeding the call to help our Filipino brothers and sisters in need of dignified housing.” 

PFI also pledged their support to HFHP’s WeBuild advocacy campaign towards Habitat’s Vision2020, where it seeks to provide decent homes to and reduce the housing backlog of the Philippines by 20%.

Be a hero to a family who needs one

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A hero exists in each and every one of us. You can be a hero in your own special way to those who are in need. You don’t have to do the impossible to get things done. You can simply do one thing consistently that creates a life-changing impact for others. 

The simple act of donating to Habitat for Humanity Philippines enable thousands of lives to change every day by providing them with a decent place to live, building hope and countless opportunities to help themselves. 

Be someone else’s hero and help us improve their lives through affordable and decent housing.

Monthly giving is a great way to help those in need. You make a big impact over time through small gifts, and Habitat has dependable funding while saving time and resources on future renewals and appeals.

Please visit Habitat Website.

Coca-Cola and Habitat Ph give cleaner, safer water systems to two Bohol towns

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The towns of Tubigon and Maribojoc in Bohol province now have clean and safe drinking water due to a joint effort of the Coca-Cola Company and Habitat for Humanity Philippines. The two towns have newly rehabilitated water supply systems, a project which began in February 2014.

Coca-Cola Philippines Foundation President Cecile Alcantara and Habitat for Humanity Philippines Managing Director and CEO Charlie Ayco (far right) formally turned over a new water filtration system to Maribojoc Mayor Leonicio Evasco Jr. on May 22, 2015 at a ceremony in Brgy. Jandig. The filtration system will benefit nine barangays in Maribojoc town.

In Tubigon, a redeveloped 105,000-liter water storage tank will be able to provide clean water to 500 families in the barangays of Panaytayon, Ilijan Norte and Ilijan Sur. Meanwhile, 2,000 families across nine barangays in the town of Maribojoc will benefit from a new multi-filtration water system that outputs 1.2 million liters of clean water per day.

Representing the provincial government of Bohol, Atty. Anthony Damalerio expressed his gratitude to Coca-Cola Philippines and Habitat for “this good example of public-private partnership. This is one way to honor our strong commitment to deliver that basic commodity to our barangays.”

From left to right: Habitat for Humanity Philippines Managing Director and CEO Charlie Ayco, Tubigon Mayor Marlon Armila, Bohol Governor Edgar Chatto, and Coca-Cola Philippines Foundation President Cecile Alcantara test the newly installed 105,000-liter water storage tank in Barangay Ilijan Sur in Tubigon. The tank will benefit 500 families from three barangays in the municipality.

Damalerio said that the province’s demand for clean water will be increasing this year since Bohol will be embarking on massive infrastructure projects. Due to this, he explained, providing barangays access to clean and safe drinking water is a topmost priority. “We must not forget the role of our barangays.”

Coca-Cola Philippines Foundation President, Cecile Alcantara, said that the two projects are the company’s way of giving back to the community the water they’ve consumed for their products. “We call this ‘replenish,’ and we are happy to say that we have given back 40 to 50 percent of the water we’ve consumed back to the communities,” she said.

Alcantara also requested local government officials to educate their constituents to take care of the resource entrusted to them. She emphasized that “[since] water is not an infinite resource, we have to conserve it.”

Habitat for Humanity Philippines Managing Director and CEO Charlie Ayco and Coca-Cola Philippines Foundation President Cecile Alcantara present a model of the newly rehabilitated 105,000-liter water storage tank to the local government of Tubigon, Bohol represented by Mayor Marlon Armila and Gov. Edgar Chatto, during a turn over ceremony held on May 22, 2015. Also in the photo are officials from Habitat for Humanity Philippines, Coca-Cola, and the local government of Tubigon.

Habitat for Humanity Philippines Managing Director and CEO, Charlie Ayco, says they took on this project as part of the organization’s goals of ensuring that Filipino families can have more decent and secure lives. “We are known for shelter, but in our housing-quality standards, clean water and sanitation are a vital components of a decent home.”

Both the Coca-Cola Company and Habitat for Humanity Philippines see themselves as partners for development, eyeing more projects together with the local government of Bohol to help rebuild the lives of those who have been affected by the 7.2-magnitude earthquake last October 2013.

“Perhaps the blessing is that the earthquake brought us all together, to work together so that we can [also] rise up together,” Coca-Cola’s Alcantara said.

#HabitatYBPhils : Thousands of Youth Culminate to Build a Better Philippines

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Brick by brick, click by click; Thousands of Filipino youth will make an impact on the Philippine housing sector this March 21st with Habitat for Humanity’s annual “Habitat Youth Build.”

Now in its fifth year, Habitat for Humanity Philippines is again organizing this major event, pioneered by its Habitat Youth Council, to engage the youth to build and repair homes, drawing attention to the global housing crisis.

“Habitat Youth Build” will be hosted simultaneously in fifteen (15) countries across the Asia-Pacific, and in the following ten (10) Habitat Philippines sites: Mindoro (the main event), Bohol, Cagayan de Oro, Cebu, Davao, General Santos, Navotas City and Quezon City.

With over four (4) million Filipino families lacking access to decent shelter, this campaign aims to bring people together to build homes, communities and hope – by raising funds, mobilizing volunteers and gathering supporters to be catalysts for poverty alleviation.

To take part in “Habitat Youth Build” 2015, please visit www.habitat.com.ph or engage with us via the following (using #HabitatYB and #HabitatYBPhils):

Facebook – www.facebook.com/habitatphilippines 

Instagram –@habitatphils 

Twitter – @habitatphils YouTube – HabitatPhils

Habitat for Humanity Philippines (HFHP) is a non-profit organization that serves Filipino families in need of decent homes. We bring together partners who share the same vision of transforming lives through building responsible and sustainable communities. Established in 1988, HFHP is a national office of Habitat for Humanity International based in Georgia, USA. For 26 years, HFHP has served over 110,000 families throughout the country. HFHP envisions that every Filipino family has a decent place to live.

Visit www.habitat.org.ph or www.facebook.com/habitatphilippines for more details.

People’s Champ’ Manny Pacquiao renews commitment with Habitat for Humanity

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Sarangani representative and ‘People’s Champ’ Manny Pacquiao renewed his commitment to be an Ambassador and spokesperson for Habitat for Humanity Philippines.

Pacquiao signed a new memorandum of agreement on January 5, 2015 indicating his commitment to support Habitat for Humanity’s “WeBuild Campaign”, which is kicking off early this year. The agreement also outlines the congressman’s P5-million donation, which will be used to partially fund 195 houses for families in Glan, Sarangani.

The families — mostly composed of fisherfolk and sari-sari store vendors — will be living in “Pacman-Tata Yap Ville” in Barangay Tango in Glan, a housing project of the congressman. 

Each duplex unit is 32 square metres on an 80-square metre lot area. The 2.8-hectare site includes a multipurpose centre, a community park and a concrete stage that can be used for community’s special events.

Pacquiao also announced plans to purchase more land for permanent houses, much to the delight of his constituents.

Habitat for Humanity launches appeal to assist those affected by Typhoon Hagupit

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Habitat for Humanity has launched an appeal to assist families affected by Typhoon Hagupit (called Ruby in the Philippines). The storm made first landfall on Samar, an island in the Visayas, Philippines, late in the evening of Saturday 6 December.

According to the Philippines National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council, more than 146,000 families were evacuated in six regions of the Philippines.

“Habitat for Humanity is sheltering evacuated families in Leyte, Cebu and Surigao del Sur provinces of the Philippines. Staff and materials are positioned and we will begin to support affected families to repair their homes. The more funds we raise, the more families we can help,” said Rick Hathaway, Habitat for Humanity vice president for Asia-Pacific.

To donate, please visit habitat.org/giving/hagupit (global) or give2habitat.org/philippines/TyphoonHagupit (within the Philippines)

Habitat for Humanity is appealing for funds to assist families and help them rebuild their lives and gain access to decent shelter. Habitat staff are on the ground ready to assess the situation and coordinate with government agencies and other partners on the disaster response operations.

Typhoon Hagupit comes just 13 months after Typhoon Haiyan killed 6,300 people and damaged or destroyed more than one million homes, according to government figures. To date Habitat for Humanity Philippines has supported nearly 28,000 Haiyan-affected families with emergency shelter and shelter repair kits and begun construction of core houses at ten sites in Cebu and Leyte provinces.

Typhoon Hagupit is expected to continue moving across the Philippines.

Habitat for Humanity with Advocate Habitat Online Champions

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Habitat for Humanity aims to meet the shelter needs of communities affected by calamities such as super typhoon Yolanda (Haiyan). Working with partners, volunteeers, and disaster response program to provide emergency and shelter repair kits, basic amenities, such as electricity, and builds core houses for affected families in communities.

When the typhoon hit, help was needed immediately. Thousands of families were devastated and there was no time to waste.

With the urgency of the problem and the need to disseminate information fast, Habitat turned to social media for an answer. And during the height of Typhoon Yolanda (Haiyan) in November, as timely and coordinated, Habitat for Humanity proved that there’s definitely more to social media than just posting selfies, and sharing throwbacks.

Habitat for Humanity / Habitat Online Champions

In a few days word about Habitat’s Yolanda response was all over social media; bloggers, celebrities, and other willing individuals readily stepped-up to help spread the word and rally for donations. With millions in donations coming in, Habitat quickly went to work distributing emergency Shelter Repair Kits across affected areas. In the weeks and months that followed, social media support continued.

Habitat Goes Social

Habitat Philippines CEO & Managing Director Charlie Ayco 

Habitat acknowledges the power of social media for social change. In its effort to maximize social media to help reach more people with its mission, Habitat is holding its first “Social Media Circle”, a gathering of bloggers and social media enthusiasts with a heart for social change; the event is also Habitat’s way of honoring its online supporters.

Habitat Philippines Communications Director Gina Virtusio.

Habitat hopes to inspire these people to continue supporting Habitat’s work in their own way and through their own network of influence.

Habitat Ambassador Kuya Tonipet Gaba  

With the undeniable power and vast reach of social media, Habitat is excited at the prospect of engaging more volunteers, donors, and advocates through this support group.

By signing Habitat’s Pledge of Commitment willing bloggers and guests were tagged “Habitat Online Champion” a title reserved for those who are up for the challenge and journey of using their influence and network to spread the word about Habitat, its programs, and advocacies.

“Habitat Online Champions" are advocate and respected bloggers, personalities and also members of online communities from various group who have been supporting and have been spreading the word about Habitat and its work.

Some Habitat Online Champions receiving Certificate of Appreciation from
Habitat CEO Charlie Ayco

I am grateful to be part of Habitat for Humanity Philippine's first Social Media Circle held at Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf in Century Mall. And I am super blessed and honored to be one of the Habitat Online Champions given appreciation for continue supporting Habitat’s work.

Regular “Social Media Circle” gathering will be held to share news and updates with these Online Champions.

Habitat also offers other volunteering opportunities on their site at http://www.habitat.org.ph/

If you want to help the families affected by Super Typhoon Haiyan (Yolanda), please visit http://habitat.org.ph/donate-now.