The spirit of volunteerism has again been sparked by a natural disaster.

Even before Typhoon Odette island-hopped in Mindanao and Visayas with destructive strength of Signal No. 4, volunteers had already started assisting efforts to feed and shelter people in many communities predicted to be along its path.

Hours after Odette hit land in Mindanao and the Visayas islands, many candidates in the May 2022 elections shifted their attention from political campaign to relief operations. And many of their volunteers crossed political lines to help in relief work.

Social media did much in inciting the spirit of volunteerism, showing the sad and frightful scenes of devastation. Many Facebook accounts shifted from political heckling to appeals for help for the affected communities even before Odette exited the Philippine Area of Responsibility.

Meanwhile, the holiday mood that had permeated many offices because of the low three-figure COVID-19 cases, was muted by concern for the plight of fellow Filipinos in the Visayas and Mindanao. In many lobbies of private companies, packs of relief goods replaced Christmas decorations.

Over the weekend, it was not surprising to see many churches, social media and school groups conducting fund drives and relief packing operations. It is part of the Filipino culture which we call “bayanihan” or community spirit.

The spontaneous initiatives to help others who have lost their houses, livelihoods, schools, and town structures are more than just heart warming. It tells us that the goodness in man is still there. And that the spirit of bayanihan is still carried in the hearts of the younger generation.

Volunteerism is a powerful force to help communities not only to recover after a natural disaster. The United Nations Volunteers Program (UNV) puts that thought clearly: “Volunteers engage communities and build a people-centric movement to help build a better and safer future for us all.” Dec. 5 of every year is International Volunteers Day which the UNV sets to recognize and promote the tireless work, not just of UN Volunteers, but of volunteers across the globe. “Every day, volunteers dedicate time and effort to ensure the inclusion of those often left behind, drive climate action and advance the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)."

The Philippines also recognizes the importance of volunteerism. In 2007, President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo signed Republic Act 9418 also known as the “Volunteer Act of 2007” institutionalizing volunteerism as a strategy for national development and international cooperation.

Although it is best to join a group of be more effective as a volunteer, a UNV study said that “70 percent of volunteer work does not involve any organization but happens informally between people in their communities.” If you have been doing independent volunteer work in your community, you are not alone.

And what can people who volunteer get from giving their time, effort and often, their resources too? “Research shows that - compared with people who never volunteered - the odds of being “very happy” rose by seven percent among those who volunteer monthly, and by 12 percent among those who volunteer every two to four weeks,” a UNV post said.

That must be the reason why Filipinos are a happy people. To us, “bayanihan” is part of every day life.