“November should already be the dry season here in the north,”
“But now, we can’t really predict when the rains come and when they end.”
Letty, a BASS farmer told me last week.
Another typhoon (Vamco) hammered the Philippines last week, the third one in three weeks. Every year we experience about 20 storms of varying degrees. Since the devastating Typhoon Haiyan of 2013, we have developed a more coordinated disaster response.
Last weekend, Global Seed Savers became part of Climathon in Pasig City. Despite the devastation and the flooding caused by Vamco, the organizers decided to push through with the event because it became even more important to do so. There were over 200 participants, observers, coaches, speakers and organizers in the 72-hour online hackathon for the climate. The objective was to find a solution that will ensure food security for all residents of Pasig City.
Literally, no rain nor high water could stop us. Nine teams competed for the chance to win a cash prize that will go into the implementation of their designs. We did it all online. Most of the teams just met their teammates on day one. But on day three, we knew each other like lifelong friends. The event brought out the best in our bayanihan spirit. Bayanihan is the Tagalog equivalent of Aduyon. It means coming together for mutual help. But taking it further than just that, couched in the word “bayanihan” are four equally important words: bayan, which means country; ani, meaning harvest; bahay, or home and bayani, which means hero. Climathon Pasig felt like the “home” or breeding ground of climate heroes.
