Philippine Navy personnel and reservists, including reigning Miss Universe Philippines Beatrice Gomez, launched a feeding program for survivors of Typhoon Odette in Cebu City.
“Upon hearing what happened in Cebu, with my family as typhoon survivors as well, so many thoughts raced through my mind. Of course, I wanted to help as much as I can. With the numerous activities that can be done to help, food was top of mind. It was the fastest to prepare and easiest to distribute, and is one of the most basic necessities,” said Gomez, herself a Navy reservist.
The feeding program benefitted close to a thousand typhoon survivors, including ferry passengers and truck drivers plying goods from Luzon to Mindanao.
The provincial government of Cebu earlier declared a state of calamity after Odette, which at one point was classified as a super typhoon, barreled through the area, toppling power lines and displacing thousands of people.
The Philippine Navy, in line with the guidance of Flag Officer in Command Rear Admiral Adelius Bordado, has been at the forefront of rescue and relief operations to help typhoon survivors, just as it has done in past calamities and even during the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Most of our reservists are typhoon survivors themselves. While we are also reeling from the impact of Odette, our efforts to extend aid continue with the help of our local partners, such as this feeding program,” said Naval Reserve Center-Eastern Visayas Commander James Francis Lugtu.
NRCen-EV partnered with the Simply Share Foundation in serving hot arroz caldo with egg.
“The core spirit of this position as a reservist is service – service in all aspects. We signed up to become reservists because we want to put others ahead of ourselves,” Gomez said.
“There is no denying what the current situation has done. But we are stronger together. We have suffered together, now let us rise together,” she added.