Philippines
Stories from change-makers in Philippines
One morning, Tisay woke up and couldn’t breathe.
Her body was frozen, but her mind was racing. Her mother took her to a medical clinic, where she was seen by a doctor who openly discussed anxiety and depression with her.
“On the outside, I looked fine, happy,” Tisay says. “But I was always trying to hold back tears. I never spoke about it because I was scared of being judged.”
Read Tisay’s story here
“On the outside, I looked fine, happy,” Tisay says. “But I was always trying to hold back tears. I never spoke about it because I was scared of being judged.”
Gelyn, a Plan sponsored child, lives with her aunts and her grandmother, who is a fish vendor.
“Due to the community lockdown, my grandmother was not allowed to go out,” says Gelyn.
“Meanwhile, both my aunts are out of work. It is more difficult for people with disabilities to find work right now.”
With no steady income, the family had trouble accessing basic necessities, such as toiletries. They’re not alone. Many Filipinos are currently unable to meet the needs of their families, especially now during COVID. The lack of access to hygiene products can lead to serious illnesses, which can then easily spread throughout a family or a community.
To respond to these issues, Plan’s RAISE Above Project is distributing menstrual health and hygiene kits to girls and young women across Western Samar. Each kit contains soap, toothbrushes, toothpaste, shampoo, hand sanitizer gel, sanitary pads and underwear, as well as information on COVID-19 prevention measures, health tips and other safety advice.
“My toothbrush was already old,” Gelyn says. “And now I can finally replace it.”
Gelyn is grateful for the support to ensure everyone in her family stays healthy. “Despite the pandemic, I want to remain hopeful. I know things will eventually get better.”
Learn more about our Humanitarian Response work
“Meanwhile, both my aunts are out of work. It is more difficult for people with disabilities to find work right now.”
With no steady income, the family had trouble accessing basic necessities, such as toiletries. They’re not alone. Many Filipinos are currently unable to meet the needs of their families, especially now during COVID. The lack of access to hygiene products can lead to serious illnesses, which can then easily spread throughout a family or a community.
To respond to these issues, Plan’s RAISE Above Project is distributing menstrual health and hygiene kits to girls and young women across Western Samar. Each kit contains soap, toothbrushes, toothpaste, shampoo, hand sanitizer gel, sanitary pads and underwear, as well as information on COVID-19 prevention measures, health tips and other safety advice.
“My toothbrush was already old,” Gelyn says. “And now I can finally replace it.”
Gelyn is grateful for the support to ensure everyone in her family stays healthy. “Despite the pandemic, I want to remain hopeful. I know things will eventually get better.”
Plan International youth advocate Mau offers advice to youth on how to stay safe and continue the fight for gender equality during the pandemic.
"If you see someone treated harshly by people with authority outside your home, report the matter through other authorities. If you see similar incidents on social media, report those, too. This act, no matter how small it may seem, could save lives and protect rights.
“It might not be known to some of us that there are also dangers behind the façade of the online world through our phones and computers. We must be extra careful as the threats are now heightened. There are online scammers and predators seeking to prey on the most vulnerable ones in the virtual world — children. We must be wary of those dangers and be vigilant about anything that we click online …
“Remember that you are aware of your own rights. Continue to protect and promote equal rights for all during this quarantine. Let us devote ourselves to become a living testament to the powerful message of gender equality."
Meet more young people advocating for change
“It might not be known to some of us that there are also dangers behind the façade of the online world through our phones and computers. We must be extra careful as the threats are now heightened. There are online scammers and predators seeking to prey on the most vulnerable ones in the virtual world — children. We must be wary of those dangers and be vigilant about anything that we click online …
“Remember that you are aware of your own rights. Continue to protect and promote equal rights for all during this quarantine. Let us devote ourselves to become a living testament to the powerful message of gender equality."
Plan International has been working to improve children’s lives in the Philippines since 1961.
Our work in the Philippines
Office & operations
Plan Philippines’ country office is located in Manila, with program unit offices in North Samar, East Samar, West Samar, Southern Leyte, Occidental Mindoro, Masbate, Visayas and Central Mindanao.
Technical areas
Plan Philippines focuses on promoting health, protection and disaster response and preparedness
Number of sponsored children
As of June 30, 2022, people like you sponsor 31,311 children in the Philippines through Plan International.
Gender equality is a fight we must all take on together. Through sponsorship, you can change lives and create long-term impact in communities.
The full circle of Fate
When you sponsor a child through Plan, you form an incredible friendship.
But that’s just the beginning. With Plan, you also have the unique opportunity to:
Send them birthday gifts and cards.
Give them special holiday presents called Little Treasures.
Subscribe them to Plan’s educational kids’ magazine, Sunny Days.
Arrange a visit (pending any travel restrictions), with individual travel assistance from us.
Each gift offering is safely hand-delivered by us, and given to your child with personalized cards from you. It’s likely that the child you sponsor will have never seen anything like these gifts, and with the exception of Little Treasures they’re available year-round to make the bond between you and your sponsored child even stronger.
Meet a child to sponsor