On 8 November, BINI members Aiah and Colet donated relief goods to survivors of Typhoon Kalmaegi (locally known as Tino) in the Philippines’ Cebu province. Both of them belong to the Cebuano-speaking Bisaya ethno-linguistic group.
Known by the portmanteau name “ColAiah,” the duo distributed goods from Talisay City to Bacayan, a small barangay (village) in the mountains. A few days ago, SunStar Cebu‘s Cherry Ann Virador reported that low-lying communities like Bacayan bore the brunt of Kalmaegi’s catastrophic damage.
“Aiah and Colet distributed aid from morning to evening, from south to north,” an X user noted. “Bacayan is so far from Talisay. As someone who accompanies their friends every time we go out, the traffic is extreme on our way to Bacayan, especially if you pass through Banilad. Kudos to ColAiah’s hearts.”
“Their act of kindness brought smiles and comfort to many Cebuanos who are still recovering from the typhoon,” Cebu Daily News wrote on Facebook. Another user described them as “powerful Bisaya women using their platform to serve the community.”
Meanwhile, some users criticised local public officials. “Not to be that person but [Aiah and Colet] literally are in my area, and they work faster than the government,” a Kalmaegi survivor said.
“It’s crazy how they did more than the government ever could,” another person observed. On TikTok, a woman wrote in Cebuano that ColAiah’s donations were the first set of relief goods that her family received since the storm.
Kalmaegi has reportedly killed 188 people in the Philippines, primarily in the Visayas region. In Cebu, the tragic deaths include multiple infants aged two to four months old respectively.
Throughout September, Filipinos across the country protested various government workers’ alleged bogus flood control projects. Filipino superstar Vice Ganda and other celebrities rallied alongside regular citizens, amplifying the people’s voices on their platforms. More than a month later, none of the accused public officials have been arrested.
As celebrities spearhead charity efforts and demand accountability from the Philippine government, many Filipinos have been asking why entertainers seem to be doing more for their countrymen than the officials whose duty is to serve the nation.