Cebu showed what it can do!

Nothing can be more moving and heartwarming than the sight of people from all walks of life doing their share to ease the pain of the victims of the 6.9-magnitude earthquake that struck on the evening of September 30, 2025 in the northern part of Cebu destroying houses, claiming lives, and leaving thousands with a sense of hopelessness and grief.

But once again, the Cebuanos have shown their capacity for resilience. Cebu Governor Pam Baricuatro demonstrated strong leadership as she assembled her team to respond to the disaster. She was on the ground zero just hours after the earthquake. She called on everyone to help the victims, and many responded.

She showed grace and diplomacy when President Ferdinand Marcos visited the province. Her most loyal supporters should understand that, as governor, she must keep her communication lines open with the highest office in the land.

Cebu City Mayor Nestor Archival led the Cebu City Government and called upon all city residents to help. Many responded enthusiastically. What's worth noting in all this is the fact that many young people, students and non-students alike, volunteered in the repacking efforts.

Without fanfare, Vice President Sara Duterte arrived ahead of President Marcos. In areas of the country where there is an OVP satellite office, she has a team ready for disaster relief operations.

The Davao City Government brought trucks of relief goods, without any name of politicians on the tarpaulins --just the phrase “From the People of Davao City.” Impressive! One may recall that it was also the same local government that was among the first to respond when Typhoon Yolanda hit Tacloban City many years ago.

More than the help from local government units, the contribution of many unsung heroes stood out, those who spent their last centavo just to buy food and water for donation. They may remain anonymous, but there is no doubt that they made a difference.

I am also proud of the media industry to which I belong. Radio stations and newspaper outlets did their part. Our stations dyHP RMN Cebu and Ifm raised more than ?3 million in cash as of this writing, excluding the in-kind donations. This is a huge help to the earthquake victims. This could not have been made possible, however, without the support of our thousands of listeners. We cannot thank them enough.

 I can't blame those who chose not to course through their reliefs donations through our government. Trust in government is at its lowest, aggravated in no small way by the perception that the investigation on the flood control corruption scandal is a moro-moro. It's going to the dogs. So, despite the risks of aftershocks and heavy traffic in areas heading to northern Cebu, many insisted on handing over the relief goods themselves.

There were also those who braved traffic congestion not because they distrusted the government, but because they had to reach areas where their relatives and friends lived or they were aware that there were remote areas that relief goods have not yet reached. They took their own initiative, knowing that many were already hungry, thirsty, and exhausted.

One could only wish that the kind of unity we show during tragedies would be the same degree of unity we can show in all other facets of our national life, particularly in our fight against the plunder of public coffers. During calamities, we tend to dissolve our political colors and conflicting ideologies. Why can't we do that when we choose the right leaders during elections?