Have you ever lifted a house with your community before? It’s not fictional; it happens in the Philippines. Through bayanihan, you can observe a community coming together to lift a house and move it to a different site. Mostly observed in the provinces, bayanihan is common in Filipino society and involves people banding together to support one another, especially during difficult times.

Pronounced “buy-uh-nee-hun,” the phrase is derived from the word bayan, which refers to a town, nation, or community. As “Bayanihan” literally means “being a bayan,” it essentially refers to a harmonious and supportive society. Helping the community is one of the Filipino people’s strengths. Wherever you go in the Philippines, the bayanihan spirit is deeply rooted; its essence defines the entire nation. 

I believe that helping others is the cornerstone of every community. My years of community service here in Cagayan de Oro and different parts of Northern Mindanao have taught me a lot, especially the old sayings, “It’s better to give, than to receive” and “It’s better to help, than to need the help.” As a volunteer, I have reached a milestone by helping our community in small ways like clean-up and blood donation drives, feeding and tree-planting activities, an educational awareness campaign on anti-human trafficking, putting up a community pantry, empowering the youth, and other events. My valuable time was not wasted; rather, it was used to empower, serve the community, and fight for human rights.

My valuable time was not wasted; rather, it was used to empower, serve the community, and fight for human rights.

Despite the numerous tragedies that have struck our nation in recent times, like typhoons, earthquakes, and a global pandemic, our bayanihan continues to prevail because we can still assist our fellow citizens. HAPI has been a light at the end of the tunnel for many families in dire situations. In particular, I would like to highlight the Cagayan de Oro chapter, which has been instrumental in helping our community share goods with many families during the pandemic’s peak. In addition, HAPI-CDO organizes a community delivery program wherein its members bring groceries to the beneficiaries who have been identified as needing them the most.

We hope that the Filipino bayanihan spirit can be a source of hope for people everywhere. Although we cannot foresee or prevent disasters from occurring, it may be comforting to be among those we can trust when things go tough. Filipinos continue to support one another despite all the challenges our community suffers, especially during these extraordinarily courageous times.

Cover Art: Bonvallite, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons