Help Families Rebuild After Devastating Fires in North Metro Manila

A Season of Loss, and a Call for Compassion

In recent months, a series of devastating fires have swept through communities in North Metro Manila, including Caloocan City, Malabon City, and Tondo.

Most recently, a massive fire occurred in Caloocan in an area that can only be described as primarily substandard housing. While the blaze itself centered on a warehouse, hundreds of surrounding homes were placed at risk. These homes are similar to those affected in Malabon and Tondo—rows of tightly packed living spaces built from lightweight, repurposed, and often questionable materials.

In many of these communities, families live without reliable connections to the city’s central utilities. Electrical access is often informal. Water and sewer connections are sporadic at best and nonexistent at worst. There are no central hydrant systems. When fires break out, water must be trucked in, costing precious time while homes, belongings, and livelihoods are lost.

This is not an isolated tragedy.

In Malabon City, approximately 1,500 homes were affected.

In Tondo, around 700 families were displaced, many from informal settlements such as Happyland.

While the Philippine government and local barangays have provided immediate relief, the effort required for families to truly recover can only be described as herculean. The fire may last hours, but the consequences last months or years.

The Long Road After the Fire Trucks Leave

Families do not just lose shelter. They lose clothing, school supplies, medications, tools for work, and the fragile stability they worked hard to build. And this is happening during the holiday season, at the end of the year, when resources are already stretched thin and the emotional toll is even heavier.

Why Even a Small Gift Matters

To put this into real-world context:

$100 USD ≈ ₱5,800–₱6,000 PHP

₱6,000 can feed a family of four for about three weeks

With extreme frugality, it can stretch to nearly one month of food

I am not trying to feed every family, though I wish I could. I am trying to collect what I can to deliver real, immediate relief to families who could use a helping hand as they begin to rebuild.

My goal is to have a positive impact on at least 150 families for a couple of critical months. To do that, I need to raise approximately $15,000–$30,000 USD.

This effort rises or falls entirely on small, one-time acts of generosity.

Transparency and Commitment

100% of all funds raised will be distributed directly to affected families

Distribution will be done with the assistance of local relief groups and community-based agencies

I commit to providing regular updates here and on LinkedIn showing progress, outreach, and impact

This is not a grant, a foundation, or a tax-advantaged campaign. It is a neighbor reaching out to neighbors in need.

Why I’m Doing This

I am new to Manila. These fires began months before my arrival, but the impact on the victims is long-term and deeply human.

As a blind American, I know personally the challenges of navigating a difficult world. I can only imagine how much more complicated life becomes when you are suddenly forced to start over with nothing.

I know this is LinkedIn, and I know many people do not want to be confronted with another request for donations, especially this time of year. But I also know that most of us can manage a one-time gift of five or ten dollars.

If you can commit five or ten dollars, I will commit to reporting back regularly and showing how that generosity becomes food on a table, dignity restored, and hope renewed.

I am doing what I can, but I cannot do it alone.

As the year ends and the holidays arrive, even a modest gift can restore a sense of stability when it is needed most. Please help me make a tangible difference in the lives of families who could use a hand up during one of the hardest moments of their lives.

Thank you for reading. Thank you for caring.