For most of us, if not for all, the year 2020 is considerably put in a limelight as the most

infamous year of our lifetime. For us Filipinos, it has opened the year with a surprise when the
long-sleeping Taal Volcano erupted unexpectedly – putting the lives of many of our countrymen
in great danger. We have seen how our brothers from Central Luzon struggle to rise from the
ashes of this calamity and to know that this happened just weeks after the year opened its doors
for us is of no good sign. Yet, we have remained pliant and determined to stand up from the
very same ground where our knees bent down. And while we are still trying to compose
ourselves from the tragedy we have just battled with, another battle, much bigger than the one
we had before came instantly in our midst – the COVID-19 pandemic. The pandemic, brought
unprecedented challenges in the modern era. It is not new to us that this disease has been a
novel one to the medical field hence the difficulty of finding its cure. These things brought our
country to a total peril. We have been placed in a lockdown for almost nine months now, the
longest in the world. This has put our remaining strength in its littlest hope to recover. Many
have lost their jobs, businesses and even their lives in this unfortunate period of our history.
Months of lockdown changed almost everything- from the way we live to the way we react to the
world. Life has been so hard for most of us and to know that the end is not in sight yet is what
makes it even harder. We thought that this could be the worst that the year could ever give us,
but we were all wrong. It was not the last blow of the year. In the midst of the pandemic, we
have yet to face its final verdict. The recent chain of typhoons that hit the country one after the
other devastated the little hope we have carried in our hearts. It was a nightmare we have never
imagined. For three weeks, Bicol Region is placed in a spotlight for battling with these typhoons
and the media reported to the world what had happened next. It was a disaster, a complete
disaster.
Knowing the struggles of our fellow Bicolanos and the great dilemma we are in, we are lucky to
have been blessed with people and organizations who exerted efforts to help our people a
chance to bounce back and recover from the disaster we have faced. The outpouring of
overwhelming support and assistance of our kind-hearted and benevolent countrymen gave the
inspiration for Mr. Marlon Maravilla to initiate a good cause – a donation drive campaign for
relief operations. This unparalleled showcase of love and compassion by our fellow Filipinos
gave birth to Bangon, Bicol. Bangon, Bicol initially started as a donation drive campaign which
aimed to help our fellow Bicolano brothers and sisters who have been greatly affected by the
typhoons that hit our region. Originally initiated by Mr. Marlon Maravilla, an educator from St.
Agnes Academy, Inc. which is also known for its brand in social involvement and extension
programs grew bigger as more and more people were inspired to help because of the program’s
striking message- to help raise one another in the spirit solidarity and subsidiarity. Our
‘Bayanihan Spirit’ was once again proven to be existent in the annals of modern society
because of campaigns and initiatives like this one and the message it brings is even more
powerful and significant in our modern times, in a time when almost all of us are facing our own
battles and carrying our own pains and struggles, we still manage and find our own ways to help
and lift each other up even with the meager resources we have in our pockets. In this moment
where self over others is expected to prevail, kindness and compassion found its way to the
deepest chambers of our hearts. This is what Bangon, Bicol is all about. And with the
continuous help and support of our donors, sponsors and benefactors, we have successfully
carried out four waves of relief operations in places considered as hardly-hit by the typhoons in
the second congressional district of Albay. The smiles and messages of gratitude of all those
who been helped by this initiative are more than enough to fuel our desires to reach more
communities and extend a message of hope that they are not alone in this struggle for we are
all in this together. One community, one race, one family – this is the message we will always
proudly hail as we pledge in heart, mind and spirit our verse of hope, strength and faith,
Bangon, Bicol!
Dios Mabalos saindo gabos!