LocationsWomen Leaders: Blooming Amid Disaster
March 12, 2025
Like many residents of the Visayas, Felisa Ramasta Castro – a native of Salcedo, Eastern Samar, one of the most affected areas by super typhoon Haiyan (Yolanda) – looks back on 8 November 2013 with painful memories. On that fateful day, Felisa and her neighbors emerged from their shelters to find their homes stripped of their roofs, coconut trees uprooted, and roads buried under piles of debris.
"I cannot forget the hunger we experienced," Felisa recalls. The storm had wiped out sources of food, and with little left in their cupboards, no one had anticipated the sheer force of Haiyan. The hunger was so overwhelming that Felisa and her neighbors salvaged wet rice grains, drying them in the sun until they could be cooked.
The devastation was immense, and help seemed distant. Felisa decided to venture to Manila, seeking aid from relatives, friends, and organizations involved in disaster response. She returned to Eastern Samar with supplies, which she distributed among those in desperate need.
Though super typhoon Yolanda caused immense suffering for Felisa, it transformed her from a quiet homemaker into a determined community leader. She began advocating for critical life-saving information and greater participation in disaster risk reduction management (DRRM). Along with other women in her community, Felisa founded Kusog han Kababayen-an han Salcedo (Kakasa), or the "Strength of Women in Salcedo".
Kakasa is a community-based women-led organization that advocates for resilience by challenging discriminatory gender norms and policies, particularly those that affect women. It has also demonstrated the power and dependability of small organizations in supporting disaster preparedness and ensuring that humanitarian aid reaches those at the last mile.
"Every time there is an impending typhoon, we already know what to do next," Felisa explains. "We assess the information from the radio and our Early Warning Early Response (EWER) mechanism." Since its formation, Kakasa members have been empowered to conduct care work analysis, leading to the redistribution of unpaid care work, better access to economic opportunities, increased community participation, and greater focus on self-care. Kakasa has become a key partner of the local government in facilitating capacity-building sessions, particularly on gender-based violence.
Felisa's leadership has garnered recognition both nationally and internationally. She is a member of the women's sector at the National Anti-Poverty Commission (NAPC). She has contributed her expertise to discussions at the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).
"Resilience is about adapting to whatever is happening. You must rise quickly, not just for yourself. You must have a deeper purpose and transform that into strength alongside others in a network that supports resilience."Felisa Ramasta Castro
Working with SHIELD, UNDP Philippines’ resilience-building program supported by the Australian Government, community leaders like Felisa can contribute to empowering local communities and fostering multistakeholder partnerships. In November 2024, she, alongside other Kakasa members, collaborated with SHIELD, the Provincial Government of Eastern Samar, and other community-based women’s groups and development partners in conducting the Gender Equality, Disability, and Social Inclusion (GEDSI) Assessment in Eastern Samar.
Felisa played a crucial role in facilitating the assessment, ensuring the process was inclusive and accessible to local communities. She led the translation of the survey questionnaires from English to the local language, ensured that the questions were fully understood by the community members, and assisted them in articulating their responses. On the ground, Felisa coordinated with local communities, invited participants, and made sure that marginalized voices, especially those of women and persons with disabilities, were part of the conversation. Through her leadership, the assessment not only gathered critical data but also strengthened community participation in shaping more inclusive climate and disaster resilience strategies.
SHIELD ensures that resilience efforts not only address risks but also tackle long-standing inequalities, including those rooted in gender relations. Felisa's story demonstrates how women leaders can emerge stronger from disasters. Now a senior citizen, Felisa's commitment to her cause remains as strong as ever. With Kakasa, she continues to advocate for institutional support for community-based organizations and women's rights groups. For her, these organizations are the backbone of resilience. "Resilience is about adapting to whatever is happening. You must rise quickly, not just for yourself. You must have a deeper purpose and transform that into strength alongside others in a network that supports resilience,” Felisa thoughtfully noted.
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