Across the Storm, My Heart Still Beats with the Philippines

Over the past week, my heart has carried the weight of storms.
First, Typhoon Tino (Kalmaegi) swept through the central islands,
and before the earth could breathe,
Super Typhoon Uwan (Fung-wong) roared across nearly the entire country—
winds and rains so vast, they seemed to swallow the sky.

Even from across an ocean, I have felt it—the ache, the worry,
the whispered prayers that travel through time zones.
I have friends there, people I hold close to my heart,
and through them, I have come to love not just individuals,
but the spirit of the Filipino people:
resilient, compassionate, endlessly giving,
even when there is little left to give.

As the news unfolded, I did what I could from here:
prayed to whatever higher powers might hear me,
lit candles, whispered the names of those I love,
sent energy into the dark,
and asked others to do the same.

It is never enough, I know.
But love—even distant love—is still a kind of offering.
And I hope that love can reach you,
even across oceans and storm clouds.

If you feel moved to help, consider lending your compassion to relief efforts—
whether through a donation, spreading awareness,
or sending your own prayers into the night. Every act ripples outward.

Here are organizations providing emergency relief and long-term support:

Philippine Red Cross – Emergency aid, medical relief, and disaster response.

GlobalGiving – Immediate supplies and funds for recovery projects.

Caritas Manila – Coordinates aid for affected families and communities.

Oxfam Pilipinas – Supports marginalized communities and climate resilience.

World Vision Philippines – Offers food, shelter, and protection for children.

Save the Children Philippines – Focused on education and child safety during disasters.

I also encourage those outside the country to seek local, community-led donation drives and mutual aid networks within the Philippines—people helping people, neighbors helping neighbors. Their voices, their needs, must always be centered.

A Prayer for the Islands I Love
Poetry by Rowan Evans

May the waters still,
and recede.
May roofs rise again,
and laughter return to the doorways.
May every whispered prayer
become a hand reaching out.

For every island, every home,
every heart that still trembles—
know that you are not alone.
Even across oceans,
my love remains with you.

May my friends, and the families I carry in my heart,
find safety, courage, and hope.
May the warmth, pride, and spirit
of a people I have come to love so deeply
guide them through the night.

The sea cannot drown
what is built on hope.
And the light,
the light always returns
to the Philippines.

With love, solidarity, and prayers,
Rowan Evans