Stories
Just One Door Away
A catalog of community stories from our documentary program — real people navigating disaster through kinship, care, and the networks that hold neighbourhoods together.
All Stories
Community-led responses across every scale
Select a story to read more about the people behind our short documentaries.
The Prologue
To know more about Barangay 1, Bacolod City, watch our prologue video below. Join us on a visual journey through its streets, meet the locals, and discover the vibrant history at the heart of our community.
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"The storm left our home untouched and it became a place to help others"
Despite being right at the shoreline, Rona's home was left untouched by Typhoon Tino. Together with her husband's technical skills, she turned her home into a resource centre.
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He lost his home, yet served his community
Jener had his home washed away. Yet, he used his influence as a transformed addict to serve neighbours whose homes were similarly destroyed.
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Home washed out, but neighbors "always tried to help"
Elgiber and Ann had their home washed away, but were able to stand thanks to the kindness of neighbours, relatives, NGOs and strangers.
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"We put out fires together fast"
Nanay Araceli and the mothers in the community use a surprising strategy to respond to disasters: tsismis (gossip). The "balde brigade" forms the first line of response.
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Empowering the next generation of first-responders: more is caught than taught
As a young girl, Claudine followed her uncle around in the aftermath of disasters. These experiences gave her the skillset to lead other young people.
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"No friends, only family": the role of kinship and care
In difficult conditions, care becomes a responsibility shared across the whole community.
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The role of Youth
It was 17-year-old Esmeralda's sense of urgency that nudged her mother to evacuate. Youth gain deep insight and play an instrumental role in preparedness.
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