Damayan pioneer

Manila, Philippines - The STAR Group of Publication’s socio-humanitarian arm, Operation Damayan, has been known to be the wing of the less fortunate, helping them overcome life’s biggest trials.

But beneath the wing is the wind – composed of STAR employees who have done and continue to do tremendous work for Damayan, all on a voluntary basis.

Tony Paño, associate editor and one of the pioneers of Damayan which was started in 1989 by The STAR Group of Publications’ founding chair Betty Go-Belmonte, recalls Mrs. Belmonte, together with the Manila Jaycees, responding to the needs of typhoon victims then.

“Readers sent their donations and these were acknowledged in Damayan stories on the front page of the newspaper. The donors were also kept abreast of Damayan activities to let them know where their donations went,” Tony says.

“Since then, The STAR has kept Damayan alive, typhoon after typhoon, or whenever the need to extend help arose. Groups and individual readers pitched in to help,” he says.

Tony says Damayan has been a witness to numerous acts of generosity.

“I remember instances when employees of various companies would forgo their holiday parties to donate their budget to Damayan. There were also parents who gave up birthday parties for their children or children who surrendered their piggy banks to give help to the community. So many stories of kind-hearted souls trusting in The STAR and Damayan – that their help would reach those who are in need,” Tony says.

He says apart from relief aid to typhoon victims in Metro Manila, Damayan also once extended help to victims of a big fire in Pasay City.

Networking with the Jaycees, Metropolitan Manila Development Authority, Manila North Tollways Corp., Department of Social Work and Development, Red Cross and private companies like San Miguel also helped bring aid to provinces like Bicol, Eastern Visayas, Ilocos and Cagayan Valley.

“I remember flying to Samar with Caritas representatives on board a San Miguel Corp. plane for a Damayan mission to a remote village with local employees of the company. The interactions offered a learning experience on humanity,” Tony says.

Asked about his most cherished moment during his stint with Damayan, Tony answers, “When Operation Damayan was given an award by the National Disaster Coordinating Council during an event at the Quirino Grandstand, Tita Betty called me to be with her to receive it. I was deeply honored.”