Building alternative livelihoods for Taal victims

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 02/03/2020 (2234 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

The eruption of the Taal Volcano in the Philippines on Jan. 12 has since triggered movement within Winnipeg’s Filipino community.

Rise from the Ashes, a fundraiser for disaster victims, was held at the Filipino Seniors Hall on Feb. 23. Several groups collaborated on the project, which raised $3,420 from ticket sales. The event consisted of multiple musical performances.

Taal Volcano is located in the middle of a lake. Ashes from the eruption contaminated surrounding water which is home to many fisheries — a primary source of income for many residents.

“Most of the people who are living in coastal towns are dependent on these resources,” said Ernesto Ofiaza Jr., president of the Filipino Music and Arts Association of Canada — one of the lead organizers of the fundraiser.

In an effort to repair this lost livelihood, proceeds from Rise from the Ashes will be used to fund alternative livelihood projects.

“Right now it’s all about rehabilitation because almost all of their homes and properties were already affected by the volcano. It’s all about livelihood now because they have nothing for their livelihood,” said Ofiaza Jr., a Maples resident who previously lived in the Philippines.

He said they are co-ordinating with the Rotary Club of Santa Rosa in Laguna, Philippines, to organize Rotary Community Corps in the affected area to support recovery projects.

Talisay Association of Manitoba, a group that represents the Philippines municipality of Talisay, was one of the beneficiaries of the fundraiser, and will use its portion of the proceeds to fund its own alternative livelihood project.

Mobilization among the Filipino community has been a pure demonstration of “bayanihan,” Ofiaza Jr. said. The Tagalog word refers to the spirit of community.

“If you research that, it’s all about people carrying a house, moving from point to point,” he said.

“Although we are here in Canada, our heart is still in our homeland which is the Philippines. Because Filipinos are so connected, so every time there is some kind of calamity or catastrophe, our minds and hearts are still with them.”