Stepping up for communities in crisis

BingoPlus Cebu employee volunteers distributed water, food, medicine and other essentials enough for 56,000 Filipinos across earthquake-affected communities in Bogo, San Remigio, Medellin, Daanbantayan, Borbon, and Tabogon. The ₱6-million relief effort, led by the BingoPlus Foundation, was carried out in coordination with local government units and mobilization partners. —CONTRIBUTED PHOTOS

The 6.9-magnitude earthquake in northern Cebu on Sept. 30 caught everyone, including experts, by surprise.

Before then, no known faults had generated a major earthquake. The locals had to deal with that disbelief while navigating great destruction. At least 79 people died, and 1,200 were injured. The quake destroyed 159,500 homes. It led to damages of over P16 billion. The province of Cebu had to declare a state of calamity to cope with the ruin.

Humanitarian assistance

Many have offered much-needed humanitarian assistance in a time of distress. Among those who immediately mounted a response was BingoPlus Foundation, the social development arm of digital entertainment company DigiPlus Interactive Corp.

Under its BayanihanPlus program, the foundation delivered P6 million worth of support to thousands of affected families.

From Oct. 5 to 23, the foundation’s volunteers delivered water, food, medicine and other essentials to an estimated 56,000 residents in hard-hit cities and municipalities like San Remigio, Medellin, Daanbantayan, Borbon, Tabogon and quake epicenter Bogo City. The beneficiaries included persons with disabilities (PWDs).

“We distributed the relief packs house-to-house… because it was difficult to pass through roads,” shared Nino Mangubat, focal person for the Philippine Accessible Disability Services (PADS) in Borbon town. PADS was one of the collaborators of BingoPlus Foundation, along with BingoPlus branches, local government units, the Philippine Army and supply chain networks.

“This aid given by the BingoPlus Foundation is really a huge help for the PWDs here in Borbon… We—the chapter presidents—are making every effort to ensure that all the aid given by BingoPlus is delivered… to the members,” Mangubat said. “Thank you very much, BingoPlus, for the support you gave us.”

BingoPlus Store manager, Mark Gibson Dingal, surveyed the devastation in Medellin and Bogo, Cebu, after a 6.9 magnitude earthquake and its aftershocks destroyed numerous establishments on Sept. 30, 2025. Distribution activities proceeded from Oct. 5 to 23 despite aftershocks, heavy rains, impassable roads, and infrastructural damage.

Challenging relief operations

According to the volunteers, impassable roads were just one of many hurdles in what they considered the most challenging relief operation for the foundation to date. The hurdles also included heavy rains, infrastructural damage and aftershocks, one of which was 5.8 magnitude.

“I learned that serving others is not about how easy the journey is, but how willing your heart is to keep going for those who need you the most,” said Jem Tumbaga, BingoPlus Foundation Communications officer. “[My] commitment to serve others remains unshaken because I know our service will bring hope to our kababayan severely affected by the earthquake.”

Angela Camins-Wieneke, the foundation’s executive director, added: “Our commitment to the people of Cebu is unwavering… We’ve prioritized swift, targeted action to ensure the relief gets into the hands of those who need it most.”

“Sama-sama sa pagtulong, sabay-sabay sa pagbangon (We help together, we recover together),” she added, explaining that BingoPlus Foundation would continue working with partners to assess the changing needs of the affected communities.