The Philippines' Typhoon Mangkhut Relief
In September 2018, Typhoon Mangkhut (known locally as Ompong) tore across the northern Philippine island of Luzon as a Category 5 super typhoon — the strongest to hit the region since 2010. With winds reaching 185 km/h (115 mph), the storm triggered 42 landslides, destroyed homes, flooded communities, and left millions in its path. By the time it subsided, 127 people had lost their lives in the Philippines, and thousands more were displaced, homeless, and without access to food or shelter.
In the aftermath, Bumi Sehat, with the help of Earth Company, mobilized support for relief efforts. A US$4,400 contribution was allocated directly for typhoon relief in Baguio, Luzon, the hometown of Robin Lim’s family. This grant was part of the general donations received during Robin’s Japan tour, redirected to meet the urgent needs of families impacted by the disaster.
At a Glance
Ibu Robin Lim is a Filipino–American midwife, mother, grandmother, and founder of Yayasan Bumi Sehat, a nonprofit organization that provides free maternity care for pregnant women, mothers and their babies, plus healthcare for all those in need.
Born in the Philippines in 1956, Robin decided to become a midwife in 1991, when her sister and niece tragically died during childbirth. She qualified as a midwife in the United States and Indonesia, and founded the Bumi Sehat Foundation International in Bali, Indonesia. To date, she has birthed over 9,000 babies and is known by locals and international fans alike as “Ibu Robin” (Mother Robin). Bumi Sehat (which translates to “healthy mother earth”) operates clinics in Bali, Sumatra Island Aceh, Papua and the Philippines, as well as temporary clinics in disaster areas around the world such as Haiti and Nepal. Through the foundation, Robin trains and inspires more than 6,000 midwives and nurses per year, and over 300,000 people have benefitted from Bumi Sehat’s services to date.
From Compassion to Action in Baguio
The funds provided emergency food supplies and relief goods to people left homeless in the wake of the storm. While the destruction was widespread, the timely assistance ensured that vulnerable families in Baguio had access to basic sustenance and dignity as they began the long process of recovery. For the Bumi Sehat community, this support was also deeply personal — a way to stand with Robin’s family and hometown during a time of loss and upheaval.
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