Just outside of Cebu, Philippines, the road into  Mananga, Talisay City  feels ordinary at first. But as our vehicle moves closer, the signs of a community rebuilding begin to  emerge — piles of lumber stacked beside homes, newly framed roofs rising next to older structures still being repaired, and neighbors working side by side.

Just months earlier, Cebu had endured a devastating sequence of disasters. On  Sept.  30, 2025, a  6.9‑magnitude earthquake  struck the province late at night, damaging homes and infrastructure across the region and affecting hundreds of thousands of people. Many families were displaced as buildings collapsed or became unsafe. Before communities could fully recover,  Typhoon Tino  swept through central Philippines in early November, bringing severe winds, flooding, and landslides that compounded the damage and forced  people  to evacuate once again. 

It was my first visit to  Cebu  since  the natural  disasters occurred, and it  didn’t  take long to understand the resilience of the communities here. Like many disasters, those early days drew global attention. Images circulated around the world, aid organizations mobilized quickly, and communities worked urgently to meet immediate needs.

But recovery  doesn’t  follow the same timeline as the headlines.

Deep Community Roots

By the time I arrived in Cebu  in March 2026, the international spotlight had moved on. What remained was the steady, determined work of rebuilding.

This  reality is exactly why Ford Building Together exists.

 Launched last year, this community initiative unites the full strength of Ford — our employees, dealers, vehicles, and philanthropy — behind nonprofit partners deeply rooted in their communities around the world. When a disaster strikes, these local organizations are the ones who rally resources and mobilize people on the ground, and Ford Building Together helps them not only respond  quickly but  also remain present long after the  initial  emergency has passed.  

In Cebu, one of those partners  is  Gawad Kalinga.

For decades, Gawad Kalinga has worked alongside communities across the Philippines, helping families rebuild homes and strengthen local resilience. 

Because of their established disaster response hubs and local volunteer networks, their team was able to mobilize quickly after the  2025  earthquake struck. Within hours, volunteers were distributing  hot meals and more than 1,000 relief packs  to families  impacted  by the disaster. Gawad Kalinga  also deployed tools that helped communities stabilize in the critical first days —water purifiers for safe drinking water,  EcoFlow  generators to restore power, Starlink connectivity to help people reconnect, and mobile kitchen equipment capable of preparing meals for large groups.

Support also came from across the broader Ford community. Local  Ford  Ranger and Raptor  club members  organized donations of meals, rice, and water for families in affected areas. Local  dealerships loaned  vehicles  so Gawad Kalinga could transport supplies and reach remote communities across Cebu.

Here for the Long Haul

The rebuilding efforts were  what stayed with me most when I visited  Mananga. Months after the earthquake and typhoon,  families were repairing homes piece by  piece,  volunteers were helping construct new structures, and children played nearby as work continued around them. The energy in the community  wasn’t  defined by what had been  lost;  it was defined by determination to move forward.

It was a humbling reminder that recovery is measured not in days, but in months and years.

That’s  why long‑term partnerships matter so much. Organizations like Gawad Kalinga  are integral to  supporting communities before, during and after  disasters,  from  helping people in the immediate aftermath  to  working  to  restore stability and strengthen resilience for the future.

This  visit to the Philippines left  a lasting impression. Not just because of the challenges communities have faced, but because of the resilience I saw everywhere I went. 

Disasters may happen suddenly. Recovery, however, is built day by day — through preparation, partnership, and people showing up for one another.

And long after the headlines fade, that work continues.

 Jane Holloway is the senior manager of global programming for Ford Philanthropy. She specializes in supporting global nonprofit organizations in countries such as the Philippines, Thailand, Australia, South Africa and more.