When a magnitude-6.9 earthquake struck Cebu on September 30, Rommel Ga-an, an engineer from the Makati Development Corporation (MDC) didn’t hesitate to step forward. Within a few days, he joined a team of technical volunteers conducting rapid visual inspections of damaged structures across Bogo, Northern Cebu.
“It was overwhelming at first,” he shared. “But in times of crisis, we can do anything to help those in need. Even the smallest effort can change lives and give people hope to surpass every struggle.”
Ga-an was one of the volunteers mobilized by Ayala Foundation and the We Are Ayala Business Club (WAABC) Cebu as part of the Ayala Group’s initiative to support disaster response efforts after the destructive quake.
More than the distribution of life-saving relief items, the Ayala Group is providing skills-based support, deploying employees who can provide engineering services, psychosocial support, and medical services to affected communities.
Such skills-based volunteering is a key part of AFI’s volunteerism strategy that encourages employees to use their own professional expertise to contribute to emergency response and various social programs.
In the aftermath of the quake, AFI and WAABC Cebu were quick to coordinate efforts across Ayala business units to deliver both immediate and technical aid.
WAABC is an Ayala platform that synergizes efforts of Ayala business units in volunteerism, community development and disaster response efforts.
A contingent of volunteers from Ayala Land, Ayala Malls, MDC Active, U-Freight Phils., Generika Drugstore, BYD Cars Philippines, ACMobility, Alveo Land, Ayala Land Premier, BPI, Globe, Ayala Multipurpose Cooperative, Ayala Property Management Corporation, BPI-MS, GCash, Healthway, LGC Logistics, AMove, Cargohaus, Iconic Dealership Inc. (Honda, Isuzu), Seda Ayala Center Cebu, ACEN, AC Health, AC Logistics, AC Industrials, and Ayala Young Leaders Congress (AYLC) alumni worked hand in hand to support affected families.
Over Ayala 500 volunteers joined the two waves of sorting, repacking, and distribution activities for the Cebu relief mission, along with 15 engineers and 20 psychosocial volunteers. A total of 3,000 relief packs were distributed across the municipalities of Bogo, Medellin, San Remigio, Daanbantayan, Tabogon, and Borbon—each one reaching families in most need of support and reassurance.
But more than relief, Ayala volunteers brought something invaluable: their technical and professional skills to support disaster response efforts.
“Relief goods meet immediate needs, but professional skills are of tremendous value in helping people rebuild,” said Tony Lambino, Ayala Foundation President. “When our volunteers share their expertise, whether in engineering, counseling, or community work, we’re able to give more than aid. We help communities recover with confidence and hope.”
For Francis Jay Pacatan, one of the psychosocial support volunteers, it was more than just providing aid.
“I felt a strong urge to be present. Not just to offer help, but to remind people that they are not alone,” shared Pacatan. “Volunteering is my way of showing solidarity and compassion in a time when hope felt fragile.”
He added that his background in community work and basic counseling helped him listen and respond with empathy. One moment, he said, will stay with him forever:
“A young boy, maybe around eight years old, shared his experience about the earthquake. He and his family were standing together beside a cracked house. He said, ‘We’re still together, so it’s okay.’ That simple act reminded me of the resilience children carry, even in the difficult times.”
For Nurse Randy Abac, volunteering meant stepping into familiar yet challenging territory.
“The first thing that came to mind after hearing about the devastation was simply to help,” he said. “As a nurse, we are trained to be frontline responders, educators, caregivers, and leaders. And that’s what I carried with me to the affected areas.”
He added, “The moment I saw how overly destroyed the place was, I also saw hope upon seeing the courage of the people.”
The Ayala Group’s mission in Cebu showed what can be achieved when people bring both compassion and expertise to the field. Through coordinated efforts between Ayala Foundation, WAABC Cebu, and local partners, volunteers were able to respond, combining technical skills with on-the-ground care.
As Ayala Foundation and WAABC Cebu continue their work in Cebu and beyond, employees and the public are encouraged to take part in future volunteer and donation initiatives under the Corporate Citizenship and Volunteerism program.
Those who wish to help may donate to Ayala Foundation, Inc. at https://donate.ayalafoundation.org or sign up to volunteer at https://volunteer.ayalafoundation.org.