The Bayanihan spirit is alive in Siana and its surrounding communities.
Not all heroes wear capes. Sometimes they come in hardhats and PPEs to serve the community during tough times. (In photo): A Greenstone Emergency Response Team member provides hot meals for communities who were affected by the recent Typhoon Basyang.Surigao del Norte/ February 2026 – When Typhoon Basyang (International name: ‘Penha’) tore through parts of Mindanao Island in the Philippines, particularly in the Caraga Region, it left more than flooded homes and damaged roads in its wake. It disrupted daily life, livelihood and the sense of normalcy for many families.
In the days that followed, while some communities in Surigao del Norte began picking-up the pieces, Greenstone Resources Corporation (GRC) – operator of the Siana Gold Project – quietly stepped in to help. The company brings its vast experience in crisis management, mitigation and the logistical capability to evacuate communities and providing them temporary shelter.
No dramas; just public service. And following the basic principle that no community should face disasters alone.
Anticipation of calamity
Even before the typhoon reached Surigao’s jurisdiction, Greenstone had already anticipated the impending situation and mobilized its team on the ground to identify the possible needs of the residents. The company also closely coordinated with local government units and line agencies, ensuring that the assistance would reach families who needed it most – particularly, those whose homes and livelihoods would be severely impacted by the typhoon.
“The effort was not simply a response to a calamity, but a continuation of Greenstone’s long-standing commitment of being a responsible and compassionate partner to its host communities,” expressed company President and General Manager Anthony B. Quijano.
At the onset of the calamity, the executive immediately activated the Crisis Management Team comprised of Emergency Response, Community Relations and Administration personnel as well as a group of volunteers to evacuate some 284 families from host municipalities Tubod and Mainit.
“Employees and volunteers worked hand in hand, driven by empathy and a shared responsibility to extend help,” said Quijano, explaining further that round-the-clock meals were provided for the evacuees who were mostly displaced families from immediate communities.
A helping hand
Greenstone’s relief operations included the distribution of essentials such as food packs and other basic supplies to an additional 1,090 families in Barangays Mapawa and Capalayan in Surigao City. For many residents, the assistance meant more than just relief goods — it was a reminder that help was present, and that the community is never forgotten in a moment of vulnerability.
“In times of disaster, our priority is to listen and respond with empathy. In moments of hardship, we stand with our communities,” said Kahlil Tabernero, head of Greenstone’s Community Relations group.
As the people continue to recover in the aftermath of Typhoon Basyang, the company’s timely intervention shows how solidarity and swift action can deliver results for those who truly matter. And in times of uncertainty, it also lets people know that they are not alone and that they matter.
Barangay Captain Reynaldo Juanite of Cawilan in Tubod expressed his appreciation for the company’s close coordination and the evacuation of his constituents before the typhoon struck: “I am truly grateful to Greenstone. They did not wait for us to ask for assistance. Instead, they immediately coordinated with our office as if it were already part of their standard operating procedure. In times of disasters like this, they promptly mobilize their resources — including manhaul trucks — and even served hot meals at the evacuation center to ensure that the constituents of Cawilan were safe, secure and well cared for.”
At the end of the day, true heroes don’t wear capes nor do they make dramatic entrances. But rather it is the volunteers and the spirit of generosity that drive these quiet acts of kindness and help restore hope — one family and one community at a time.
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