Two full weeks have passed since…
Post-typhoon relief operations in Cebu. Source: Ramon Aboitiz Foundation, Inc.
Typhoon Kalmaegi (local name: Typhoon Tino) swept through the heart of the Philippines. In Cebu, my home, the impact was severe. Destroyed homes, flooded communities, and altered lives forever. My thoughts are with the families in mourning, those rebuilding from scratch, and everyone navigating such mental and emotional toll.
Yet, in the storm's wake, Filipino resilience continues to shine through. Not in loud declaration, but in quiet, steadfast actions. As floodwaters subsided, Cebu buzzed with ‘bayanihan’ (our spirit of communal unity and support, especially in times of need). This enduring strength, honed by generations facing nature's trials, reminds us that adversity fosters unbreakable bonds.
In Cebu’s thriving, excellent outsourcing sector (where I work at RipeConcepts), this resilience is circuitry embedded into our daily operations. Our teams endured the same hardships, utility outages, damaged homes, and personal worries.
Supporting Our Team, Serving Our Clients
But our preparedness paid off – office generators powered up, remote systems reactivated, and everyone stayed connected. In fact, mere hours after the calamity, many already returned to their posts, trying to ensure seamless and uninterrupted service as much as possible to clients around the world.
With or without typhoons, what sets us apart is our caring culture, and given what just transpired, we extended help to our employees – financial aid, providing essentials, flexible schedules, and emotional support. Nagarro, our mothership, helped big time. Reinforcing the caring culture and the message that we're more than a workforce. These acts aren't policy. They're a commitment to being there for one another. This allows us to focus on what we do best amidst challenges.
This story extends beyond one company or city. Filipinos embody perseverance. Typhoon Kalmaegi highlighted vulnerabilities but also our capacity to recover and innovate. In Cebu, as we continue to rebuild, we stand with everyone around us. Life and work go on, and we're here, united, ready for tomorrow.
Two weeks have passed… and each day reaffirms that true strength lies in rising together, every time.
Featured Article
