Filipino lensmen launch ‘Bayanihan para sa Batanes’ to aid quake victims

MANILA, Philippines — A group of Filipino photographers kickstarted an online fund drive aimed at helping the victims of a series of devastating earthquakes that hit Batanes province on Saturday.

Launched as the “Bayanihan para sa Batanes,” some Filipino shutterbugs are selling their printed photographs to raise funds for the relief of the Ivatans.

In its page’s About section, the group explained the said project is “a collaborative effort by photographers to provide monetary and in-kind assistance to the victims of Itbayat earthquake.”

“The rich culture of Batanes has inspired countless photographers. This is their way of giving back to the loving and resilient Ivatans,” it added.

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“Tulong tulong tayo para sa Batanes,” Paul Quiambao, one of the founders of the project, said in a Facebook post.

Quiambao also urged his fellow photographers and artists to contribute to help raise funds for the affected Ivatans.

“Spread the word para mas marami tayo matulungan na pamilya sa Itbayat. Dios mamajes!” he added.

Twin tremors on Saturday struck Itbayat, a town that was built to withstand storms, leaving nine casualties, 60 injured, and an estimated P47 million in damage, according to the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC).

Several aftershocks followed.

The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology recorded the first tremor at 4:16 a.m. with a magnitude of 5.4, followed by stronger 5.9 magnitude jolt at 7:30 a.m.

The quakes also caused historic buildings and churches, and limestone houses to buckle.

The NDRRMC also reported 15 houses were damaged, as well as two schools and a couple of health facilities.