Urgent Relief for Bara: Rebuilding After Typhoon Opong

I was born and raised in a tiny village of Bara, Milagros, Masbate, and the organizer of this GoFundMe campaign. I’ve always been part of our village’s heart, working to support our families and preserve our way of life.

Just days ago, on September 26, 2025, our peaceful village of Bara in Milagros, Masbate, was struck by the full fury of Typhoon Opong. What started as a routine Friday morning turned into a nightmare as the severe tropical storm made landfall directly in our municipality at around 5:30 a.m., bringing winds gusting up to 85 km/h, torrential rains exceeding 200 mm in hours, and devastating storm surges along our coastal shores. Bara, a tight-knit fishing and farming community of about 500 families, lies in the heart of Milagros—one of the hardest-hit areas in Masbate province. The typhoon ripped through our homes, schools, and farmlands with unrelenting force. Roofs were torn off like paper, walls collapsed under the weight of fallen trees, and floodwaters surged up to 2 meters high, sweeping away everything in their path. Tragically, Masbate has already reported at least three lives lost province-wide, including one villager crushed by a falling coconut tree and another drowned in the floods. In Bara, we've been spared fatalities by the grace of quick evacuations. Our children are traumatized, our elders are without shelter, and our livelihoods are shattered. This is more than a storm; it's a call to our resilient spirit. But we CANNOT rebuild alone. We're reaching out to the world with heavy hearts but unyielding hope. Your support can help us rise from the ruins and secure a safer future for Bara.

The Impact of Typhoon:

• Homes Destroyed or Damaged: 40 % lost their roofs or entire structures; many are now crammed into a single community center without electricity or clean water.

• Fishing Losses: Fishing boats—our primary income source—were smashed against the shore.

• Infrastructure: The local elementary school is uninhabitable, with classrooms flooded and books ruined.

• Human Toll: No deaths in Bara but food shortages are acute, with families surviving on whatever rice wasn't washed away. Children can't attend school, and the risk of disease from contaminated water is rising.

Typhoon Opong has displaced thousands across Masbate and nearby provinces, compounding the grief from Super Typhoon Ragasa just days earlier. But in Bara, we're determined to lead the recovery. How Your Donation Will Help Every peso counts toward immediate relief and long-term rebuilding. Our plan would go to towards:

• ₱138,000($2500) – Emergency Food and Water: Provide 3 months of rice, canned goods, and purified water for 500 families. Medical and Hygiene Supplies: Stock the health center with antibiotics, first-aid kits, and sanitation items to prevent outbreaks.

• ₱138,000 ($2500) – Shelter and Tarps: Distribute family tents, roofing sheets, and repair kits to restore safe homes before the next rains

Funds will be managed by a village committee headed by elementary teacher, with full accounting shared monthly via updates here

Be Our Lifeline

From the depths of our flooded community to the warmth of your hearts across the globe, thank you for seeing us. A donation of ₱500 feeds a family for a week; ₱1,000 rebuilds a roof panel. Share this page with friends, family, and your networks—every share amplifies our voices. In the spirit of bayanihan (community unity), let's turn tragedy into triumph. Donate now and help Bara rebuild.

With deepest gratitude,

The Village of Bara