In 2021, a series of typhoons tore through Camarines Sur, displacing families in Barangay Poblacion, Lupi. Many sought refuge in a crowded covered court, plagued by loss and uncertainty. Amid the chaos, a relief mission led by then-Vice President Leni Robredo arrived — not just with aid, but with a challenge that would soon spark the community’s transformation.
During the relief mission, the team learned of a nearby unfinished relocation site. Recognizing both its potential to provide the townspeople a fresh start and the urgent need for new housing, help was offered to complete it–on one condition: the community had to help build all 119 houses through bayanihan, the Filipino spirit of collective effort.
This was a bold offer, one that trusted the community and empowered its members to take charge of their own future. But through this partnership, including technical assistance from the University of Nueva Caceres, strong coordination from the LGU, the new village was built in just six months. “Lahat ng beneficiaries ay kumilos nang parang iisa lang,” one beneficiary shares. “Kapalit ng pag-asa na hindi na muling maranasan ang mangamba sa tuwing magkakaroon ng ng masamang panahon… mamuhay ng may kapanatagan at pag-asa na kahit papaano ay magbabago ang antas ng pamumuhay.”
[“All beneficiaries moved as one… in exchange for hopes that we will never have to worry about bad weather again, that we would be able to live in safety, and that our standards of living will somehow improve.”]
Today, all 119 homes are fully occupied, and the new village–named the Angat Buhay Village–has flourished into a thriving, organized community. In addition to houses, the village now also boasts a chapel and a livelihood and training center, and they are currently preparing to build a daycare center. “Sabi nga po ng iba, parang model community,” says Fe D. Santos, Vice-Chair of the Angat Buhay Village Household Association. [“Others call us a model community.”]
The Angat Buhay Village in Lupi is a testament to the power of bayanihan, the Filipino tradition of working together for the common good. Through the leadership of Atty. Leni Robredo and the continued efforts of Angat Buhay, along with the unity of the community, this project demonstrates how collective action can turn adversity into opportunity. It is a shining example of how joint effort and multi-sectoral collaboration can empower ordinary people to take charge of their futures and build something beautiful, lasting, and dignified from the rubble of destruction.
