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Haiyan Stories: Leyte (Madonna Songalia)

by Paula Nierras

Madonna Songalia had been working at a Manila call center for seven years when Yolanda happened. Like many other Filipinos who trace their roots from the affected provinces, desperate for news and desperate to help, there was an intense need to do something.

Joining her childhood friend, Sarah Saavedra-Songalia, who founded a Facebook page for Tanauananons – Burublig para ha Tanauan (BPHT), Madz helped mobilize relief efforts for their hometown in the days following the devastation. But as weeks and months had passed, there was still this nudging feeling to do more.

An unexpected homecoming: While these thoughts lingered in her mind, Madz received an offer to help BPHT with more projects as more support had come in. It would require her to quit her job and settle back to Tanauan, but despite these pre-conditions, almost immediately and with no hesitation, she said yes.

Today, Madz heads on-ground projects for BPHT, which is now a full-fledged NGO dedicated to help rebuild Tanauan through sustainable livelihood. Her need to do something paved the way for a bigger mission.

“Dream ko para sa kanila is someday ‘di lang sila makabili ng pagkain pang araw-araw. Meron din silang nasi-save. Yung kaya nilang ilabas once a month yung pamilya nila para kumain sa Jollibee. Until then, there’s so much more to do.” (My dream is for them to have more than just enough to spend on everyday meals. I hope someday they will have the capacity to save; to be able to take their family out to a nice meal once a month. Until then, there’s so much more to do.) 

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