A lot of people are wondering what I did 6 months ago during the onslaught of Typhoon Yolanda.
I was at home working when the news broke out about it. People on my virtual workplace worried if I am affected of Haiyan. I told them that I am in Manila and the provinces in the eastern part of Visayas was struck by the said devastating typhoon.
November 8: Typhoon Yolanda entered the Philippines.
November 9: While on my way to the DigitalFilipino’s SEO seminar at Commune, Makati, I rode a taxi and heard about the devastation of Typhoon Haiyan (Yolanda) near Coron, Palawan. I wasn’t aware at that time that Leyte, Samar and other nearby province were hit by the said typhoon.
Upon learning the news, my former client, Fiona emailed me on how to send her donation. I told her that I gave a part of my weekly earnings from Odesk to the Red Cross. Then, I asked my neighbor’s helper, Romnick if he received a news on the whereabouts of his family in Samar.
When I learned about Google Finder, I texted him and asked for the deets of his family. He went to our store and gave the complete details that I need to submit it on the list. And I also search a lot of my friends who were living in the area.
I found out that there’s a lot of bloggers based in Tacloban and nearby province who sought spiritual and financial help at the height of Yolanda. It broke my heart when a blogger and her family died during the typhoon.
Few days after, I read Third Team Media’s owner Fleire Castro status update on Facebook that catches my attention:
A week after the typhoon, I messaged Fleire in the morning of November 17:
Good morning! Is there bloggers who are affected with YolandaPh pa aside from Ge Ann who need help pa?I’m planning to donate one of my unused laptop (I purchased from a blogger and I never been use it pa).
(Photos above from Dante Enage’s art studio in Tacloban)
I bought the said laptop (it’s a second hand lappy) to a close friend and also a blogger which was supposed to be the replacement of my current netbook. I did all the sacrifices in my life…I let it go and help someone in need of my help.
During the afternoon of December 7, I sent out the laptop. And today, I was delighted over Ge Ann’s post on my timeline. She was able to get back working on her blog, do some social media marketing strategies, articles and Skype calls to her students.
It’s my way of paying it forward to the blogging community. No matter what’s happening around the blogging scene, we need to unite in times of struggles and natural disasters.
Christian Melanie Lee is a freelance community manager/social media manager, chatbot builder, social media consultant, and web developer. She is managing her other blogs under lifestyle, food, music/concert, and Hallyu niche.
Last August 2020, her first website project, Choose Khiphop is one of the news authority about Korean Hiphop. Five months later, she and her friends formed a podcast called +82 Khiphop Podcast.
In 2018, she had her stint as The Itchyworms' social media manager which led her to do music photography in her spare time. A year later, she had a short stint as road manager for the local band, Join The Club.
Currently working as freelance community manager and music photographer.
14 thoughts on “What I did 6 months ago during Typhoon Yolanda”
You’re so kind miss Melanie. You didn’t hesitate on helping others especially when they’re in need. More blessings for you
Wow! Helping others get back on their feet :D Very nice. Sometimes every one in need just needed a little more push to the right direction :D
I honor you for helping our fellow online worker by giving what they really need (a laptop) so that they can start over:-). Keep on sharing your blessings.
Nakakatouch naman hehe. I remember also where I was during those days. I am sure you will be blessed more by what you did to our kababayans. Good karma will pay you. God bless! :-)
It’s stories like these that define the resilient nature and Bayanihan spirit of the Filipino. Good to hear stories like these amidst all the inefficiency or corruption of the government.
Great post Melanie. Ge Ann is also doing a fundraiser. I look forward to her announcement.
Thanks po. She also told me about it few days ago.
That was totally selfless and kind of you. God bless you more.
Touching story. I always admire people who are not selfish and find ways to help the community. Now, this is good news.
You have a great heart, doing small deeds are some of the most wonderful & unexpected things that shows our humanity… pay it forward :)
mas masarap kase sa pakiramdam yung nakakatulong ka… :) very nice deed.. :)
[…] my experience in paying it forward to a fellow blogger several months ago, it makes me feel rewarded myself whenever I’m helping out my friends and […]
[…] of people dead. Just 3 weeks from the quake, the region was not spared from the path of the super Typhoon Yolanda (international name “Haiyan”) which sent some 40,000 Boholanos […]
[…] Habitat for Humanity works to provide decent shelter to families living in-sub-standard, deplorable condition. They acknowledges the empowerment of social media. Not just doing selfies, #ootd, and sharing throwback moments on our social media accounts, we must do something to our fellow kababayans who are in need of our help, especially those people who are still don’t have permanent home during the massive destruction of Typhoon Yolanda. […]
You’re so kind miss Melanie. You didn’t hesitate on helping others especially when they’re in need. More blessings for you
Wow! Helping others get back on their feet :D Very nice. Sometimes every one in need just needed a little more push to the right direction :D
I honor you for helping our fellow online worker by giving what they really need (a laptop) so that they can start over:-). Keep on sharing your blessings.
Nakakatouch naman hehe. I remember also where I was during those days. I am sure you will be blessed more by what you did to our kababayans. Good karma will pay you. God bless! :-)
It’s stories like these that define the resilient nature and Bayanihan spirit of the Filipino. Good to hear stories like these amidst all the inefficiency or corruption of the government.
Great post Melanie. Ge Ann is also doing a fundraiser. I look forward to her announcement.
Thanks po. She also told me about it few days ago.
That was totally selfless and kind of you. God bless you more.
Touching story. I always admire people who are not selfish and find ways to help the community. Now, this is good news.
You have a great heart, doing small deeds are some of the most wonderful & unexpected things that shows our humanity… pay it forward :)
mas masarap kase sa pakiramdam yung nakakatulong ka… :) very nice deed.. :)
[…] my experience in paying it forward to a fellow blogger several months ago, it makes me feel rewarded myself whenever I’m helping out my friends and […]
[…] of people dead. Just 3 weeks from the quake, the region was not spared from the path of the super Typhoon Yolanda (international name “Haiyan”) which sent some 40,000 Boholanos […]
[…] Habitat for Humanity works to provide decent shelter to families living in-sub-standard, deplorable condition. They acknowledges the empowerment of social media. Not just doing selfies, #ootd, and sharing throwback moments on our social media accounts, we must do something to our fellow kababayans who are in need of our help, especially those people who are still don’t have permanent home during the massive destruction of Typhoon Yolanda. […]