community

It had been years since heavy typhoons devastated the community of Barangay Pinaglapatan in Infanta, Quezon – a far-flung town in the Philippines. Since then, the community underwent the arduous process of rehabilitation to rebuild their lives. Hundreds of families lost their homes and belongings during the disaster that was why it had been a challenge for them to get back on with their lives.

As disaster struck the community, there was also an outpouring of support from government and non-government organizations. Different groups extended their assistance by giving relief goods, medical help, and construction materials for damaged houses. Later on, some humanitarian groups focused on the issue of health, livelihood, education, and spiritual formation to help the people get back on their feet.

When the typhoons struck the community, floodwaters rose rapidly, carrying mud, debris, and logs that engulfed the community. This caused deaths and damages to properties. However, amidst this disaster, one humanitarian organization found a way to be able to help community members get back on their feet by turning the hundreds or thousands of logs into different pieces of furniture. They taught the men and women basic carpentry and wood carving skills to be able to turn the logs into beautiful tables, chairs, bookcases, plant stand, bed frames, and other things. They also helped the people by funding the equipment that they needed for turning the logs into furniture. Lastly, they also found a way to market these furniture pieces so that the community members could earn money after selling them.

Each piece of furniture relays the story of the family that was affected by that disaster and their efforts to get back on their feet after the tragedy. Each piece of furniture that was sold strengthened their spirit and gave them hope.