Operation Damayan: A legacy of compassion
MANILA, Philippines — The seeds planted by STAR founder Betty Go-Belmonte decades ago have grown into the pillar of hope that it is today. Stemming from her own compassionate heart and nurtured by her son, PhilSTAR Media Group President and CEO Miguel Belmonte, Operation Damayan has developed deep roots.
Operation Damayan is the humanitarian arm of The Philippine STAR. But more than that, it is a lifeline that reaches communities across the Philippine archipelago.
Decades later, it continues to fulfill its mission, shining in every shade of hope, grace and resilience.
Expanding the mission
"Operation Damayan was started by my late mother back in the late '80s. Initially, the purpose was to provide assistance in disaster-stricken areas," Belmonte says.
"As the company started to grow and we were in a position to help, we expanded the program to not just be assisting during calamities, but also to build classrooms to support the education of the youth."
Damayan has built classrooms across the Philippines, estimated at around 70.
"We really believe that the youth are the future of our country. That's why we wanted to contribute in any way to their education."
As the program grows, so does its scope and coverage.
"We were also doing medical missions and helping people who could not afford their medical needs," Belmonte adds.
While the company funds the program, The STAR also recognizes that readers, corporations and foundations are eager to join the cause.
"Sometimes, we solicit funds from our kind-hearted readers. But that's mainly because we also wanted to provide our readers with the opportunity to help," Belmonte says.
"Of course, every peso that they gave us, we have been able to help other people in need. That is what Damayan has been doing all these years, from the '80s up to the present."
There is no easy way to conduct ground operations, especially in areas battered by typhoons.
Belmonte says he was on the ground during Damayan's relief operations in Tacloban after Super Typhoon Yolanda devastated the city.
"One thing that is very memorable for me happened even before Typhoon Yolanda hit," he shares. "Bohol and Cebu were hit by a very strong earthquake that caused so much damage in both provinces."
He recalls boarding large boats in pitch darkness, sailing for hours alongside STAR employee-volunteers just to reach isolated communities.
"These are some of the things we did because we wanted to help," he says.
"We were able to help around 3,000 families in one day. It's very hard to do these projects; it really is a lot of sacrifice."
Looking ahead
There are some things one can't erase: the truth, honesty, and compassion a person leaves behind.
For The STAR, that guiding light has always been Betty Go-Belmonte. For her son, Miguel, upholding what his mother left behind is both a privilege and a promise.
"The Philippines is being hit by so many typhoons a year, so the need to help is always there," Belmonte says.
As Operation Damayan looks to the future, it carries her memory forward, standing ready to be a lifeline for the Filipino people for generations to come.
