An urgent call for help has been made following the impact of Typhoon Tino, which tore through the central Philippines, leaving widespread destruction across Negros and Cebu. For many Filipinos in Australia, the devastation feels close to home — families, classmates, and friends are among those affected.
The Sisters of the Good Samaritan Foundation, an Australian charity group, has opened a relief appeal to support communities on Negros Island, where it has served for decades through education and nutrition programs. In the coastal settlement of Boulevard, where many scholarship students and their families live, homes were flattened and entire rows of makeshift dwellings swept away. People are now sheltering in temporary spaces with little food, water, or supplies.
While Australian media coverage has focused largely on the impact in Cebu, the neighbouring island of Negros – where long-standing Good Samaritan ministries are located – has also suffered extensive damage. (Watch the following video)
Typhoon Tino’s trail of destruction
Typhoon Tino (international name Kalmaegi) made multiple landfalls across the Visayas region, striking Silago in Southern Leyte, Borbon in Cebu, Sagay in Negros Occidental, and Iloilo City with sustained winds exceeding 220 km/h and torrential rain.
According to the Philippine National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council, more than two million Filipinos have been affected nationwide, with Negros Occidental among the hardest-hit provinces. Entire coastal villages were engulfed by storm surges up to three metres high, while floods isolated inland towns and triggered landslides near Mount Kanlaon, cutting off roads and power. Storm surges of this scale can destroy entire shorefronts, and evacuation centres in the Visayas remain overwhelmed with displaced families.
On Negros Island, families huddled in classrooms and churches as the storm passed, only to return to homes buried in mud or swept out to sea. Evacuation centres are overflowing, with families sleeping on damp floors, sharing limited food and water, and waiting for news of loved ones still missing.
A call for compassion
“Your contribution will help families already living with vulnerability rebuild their communities. Together we can offer our compassion and practical support,” said Sonya Mears, Executive Director of the Sisters of the Good Samaritan Foundation.
The Foundation’s Emergency Relief Appeal aims to provide immediate shelter materials, hot meals, and support for families rebuilding their homes.
Donations can be made through the Foundation’s website. Supporters are encouraged to select ‘Philippines Emergency Appeal’ from the donation form’s dropdown menu.
The Sisters of the Good Samaritan Foundation empowers women and children experiencing poverty, climate emergencies, and domestic violence through education, skills training, food security, and community support. For more than 25 years, the Foundation has worked across Australia, Kiribati, the Philippines, and Timor-Leste, helping vulnerable women and children build independence and hope.
