The Power Of Community During Calamity

Written by King Nerio Sibulo, Holistic Embodiment Coach

King Nerio is a ICF Certified, Holistic Embodiment Coach. He is a 3rd Generation Medicine Man utilizing the experiences and wisdom from his forefathers and a holistic and result drivern appraoch to his coaching practice.

A typhoon recently hit my hometown of Camarines Sur, Philippines. My family is safe, but many families were affected. Homes were destroyed, there were casualties, roads were closed due to flooding, and infrastructure and businesses were affected. As I received updates on the situation from social media, one of my cousins sent me a picture that showcased the embodiment of "Bayanihan," a Filipino word that means mutual assistance or the spirit of unity.

Since the roads were inaccessible, travelers had been stranded for days without access to food or water. In some affected areas, the water reached the first floor of houses, meaning the water level was around 5 to 6 feet deep. People were stranded on buses, in their cars, driving trucks, and various other modes of transportation. Since most businesses were closed due to the typhoon, people had very little access to food.

The traffic stopped moving on Monday night, stretching across multiple cities and remaining stagnant for over 4 days, leaving people stranded. The least affected members of the community sprung into action, cooking food for those stranded in their vehicles. This small action inspired others, and soon enough, groups of people from families, students, and school faculties were gathering whatever they could to help those in need. They provided food and water to those stranded on the road, delivered essential items like diapers and milk for infants to evacuation centers, and brought medicine to those with infections and coughs due to the severe weather conditions.

As I type this blog, I see that the relief efforts are still ongoing. What it has shown me is the power of community.

When you have a community around you, you have hope. Some of the travelers didn't expect the flood, so most of them didn't pack enough food or bring enough cash. This simple gesture of giving the stranded travelers food and water brought smiles back to their faces and lifted their spirits.

When you have a community, a little bit of something can go a long way. What I saw was everyone coming together and combining their resources to help those in need. Those who had cash donated money to buy food, those who had time and energy helped with preparing, cooking, and packing the food, and even the children helped distribute it to those in need. It taught me that you don't need much to help.

Lastly, a simple act of kindness can go a long way. What inspired this momentum of community members helping the stranded was a local vendor who sells sweet bananas. Instead of selling them to those who were stranded, she decided to give them away, knowing that everyone was short on cash and some hadn't eaten in days.

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King Nerio Sibulo, Holistic Embodiment Coach

King Nerio is a ICF Certified, Holistic Embodiment Coach, and a Cold Plunge Practitioner. He is a 3rd Generation Medicine Man utilizing the experiences and wisdom from his forefathers and a holistic and result driven approach to coaching. He helps men embody their most confident self and create a positive self-worth so they can create healthy and meaningful relationships with women, live the life they desire and become a healthy and positive role model for society. King Nerio also hosts meditation and mindfulness workshops to teach people mindfulness practices to deepen their awareness, increase their clarity and live a life grounded in the present moment.