In a heartwarming display of compassion, Grade 12 students from Abellana National School have stepped up to provide relief to families affected by the recent onslaught of Typhoon Tino in Cebu City. Using their personal savings, the students prepared and distributed warm champorado, offering comfort and a hot meal to those in need.
From School Project to Community Outreach
The initiative was launched by students from Section Europa on November 11, 2025. Their original plan was to serve the evacuees who were temporarily sheltered at the Southwestern University PHINMA campus in Barangay Sambag 2, Cebu City. These individuals, residents of Barangays Sambag 1 and Sambag 2, had been forced from their homes by severe flooding caused by the typhoon.
Upon arrival, the students discovered that many evacuees had already been permitted to return home. Undeterred, the group adapted their plan. They coordinated with Barangay Captain Keith Noel Wenceslao and the Sambag 2 Sangguniang Kabataan Council, led by SK Chairperson Mary Rosyll Roncal, to conduct a house-to-house food distribution.
Bringing Warmth to Damaged Homes
The student volunteers visited the communities of Sitio Lower Pailob and Upper Pailob in Barangay Sambag 2. There, they witnessed firsthand the devastation left by Typhoon Tino. The floodwaters had destroyed or damaged numerous homes, leaving many personal belongings lost or ruined.
Despite facing the challenges of the same calamity themselves, the students pressed on, personally funding the entire ChampEUrado Drive with money they had saved from their own allowances.
Voices of Compassion and Resilience
Carlix Navaja, a Grade 12 HUMSS student, explained the motivation behind the project. "As a student built and grounded in compassion and empathy for others, even though we were also affected by the calamities in Cebu, I am deeply saddened for the people who were extremely affected," Navaja shared. "I wanted to initiate this 'ChampEUrado Drive' to show that even with limited resources, we can still do greater things — such as helping others in need."
For volunteer Maria Isabelle Juntong, the experience was profoundly moving. "It was my first time joining a feeding activity, yet it felt like something I’d been doing for a long time," Juntong expressed. "The experience was filled with warmth and mixed emotions as we distributed food from house to house, seeing the children’s bright smiles and hearing their laughter. Visiting their homes and witnessing their resilience after the tragedy was truly touching."
This initiative stands as a powerful testament to the spirit of the youth, proving that empathy and a simple cup of warm champorado can bring significant hope and joy in the wake of a disaster.
