June 8, 2026—what was supposed to have been the first day of the school year for children around the Philippines became a day of panic and terror as a 7.8-magnitude earthquake rocked Mindanao.

Entire communities were destroyed. Families were displaced, traumatized, and desperate for help. In response to the crisis, GAiN Philippines stepped in to deliver relief goods and to take part in the efforts to rebuild the affected communities.

The numbers are staggering, but they don't tell the whole story. The news reports show the damage, but not extensively. Houses have been destroyed—some totally, some partially. Roads are blocked by the landslides, making travel almost impossible. Aftershocks occur every few days or so. Clean water is no longer accessible.

But the human cost far outweighs the infrastructure damage.

Families are sleeping outside in tents beside they're ruined homes, afraid of when the next earthquake may come. Schools have been suspended indefinitely. Businesses are closed. There's no work, no means of income, which means families are going hungry. In some remote communities in the mountains, the GAiN Team encountered indigenous families who hadn't eaten in days. And everywhere, trauma hangs heavy—especially among fishermen who refuse to return to the sea, paralyzed by fear of possible tsunamis.

This was the landscape GAiN Philippines walked into.

The GAiN Team traveled to the most severely affected areas in Glan and Jose Abad Santos. We distributed emergency supplies: food, water, solar lights, and tents. We also distributed water filters and taught families how to use them—a critical resource, given the contamination of local waterways. But the physical supplies were only part of the response.

We talked to families, to community leaders. We asked what they needed the most. Aside from food and water, the families need trauma counseling. They need help processing what they experienced. The need for psychological aid is almost as urgent as the need for physical aid.

But the situation isn't without hope.

In the midst of devastation, the GAiN Team got to talk to a local pastor whose church building was among those damaged. He said one thing we'll never forget:

"We want to keep a positive attitude and not look at the negative side of things. We know that God can work things out for good. We are hoping something good will come out of these troubled times."

—Pastor Boy

Emergency relief saves lives in the immediate aftermath of a disaster. But the real recovery—the kind that creates lasting change—takes time, resources, and deep commitment. That's why Phase 2 of GAiN PH's earthquake response is critical.

Here is when we shift from emergency aid to sustainable rebuilding. We want to walk alongside communities as they reconstruct homes where families can safely live and rebuild their lives. We want to introduce livelihood recovery programs so that families can return to work, generate income, and provide for themselves.

This is where transformation happens. This is where communities emerge stronger, more resilient, more hopeful.

But for this to happen, we need people like you. Mindanao needs people like you.

Here's how you can be a part of this:

• Donate: Your contribution funds house construction, livelihood programs, trauma counseling, and essential supplies for families rebuilding their lives.
• Volunteer: If you're on the ground and have skills in construction, counseling, livelihood training, or simply want to work alongside families, let us know.
• Spread awareness: Share our mission. Help other supporters understad why this work matters and how they can help.

Communities are waiting. Families need you. Will you be part of rebuilding Mindanao?