When typhoon Odette (International name: Rai) pummelled the country last week, it caused massive devastation in many areas of Visayas and Mindanao.
Many communities were forced to evacuate while some were left stranded as they confronted heavy rains and strong winds. Families were left to mourn many things -- loved ones, homes, and even the spirit of Christmas that had been trampled on by the destructive calamity.
One in the spirit of bayanihan, several local celebrities have raised awareness on this matter by supporting various relief efforts and donation drives, even encouraging their fans and followers to donate and volunteer for these causes.
Aside from this, they are also inspiring more people to pray for these typhoon-hit communities who are in the process of healing from the devastation.
Here are some of the personalities who have used their voices to help our countrymen in one of the world's strongest storms this year:
Celebrity mom Andi Eigenmann asks for everyone's prayers for the safety of her loved ones and other residents in Siargao, which was heavily affected by Typhoon Odette.
Businessman Slater Young shared how the strong Typhoon affected his hometown in Cebu City.
In his latest Instagram post, he shared that many of his employees have used their company's factory as a temporary shelter for safety.
Actress Nadine Lustre sent out support and awareness for rescue efforts by sharing an address, where dry goods and supplies can be sent, and bank deposit details, where people can transfer extra money for those affected by the typhoon.
Award-winning actress Bea Alonzo shared a post from the I am Hope Organization and asked for everyone's prayers for the residents in Siargao as well as its surroundings.
Kapuso star Kylie Padilla raised awareness about the devastating situation in Siargao by reposting a photo from Kids for Kid Youth Organization for donations and prayers.
Actress Lauren Young asked for relief goods and monetary donations for those affected by the typhoon.
KC Concepcion, who is currently based in the United States, reminded everyone to pray for the Philippines.
'To Have and To Hold' star Max Collins called for help through Save Palawan Seas Foundation.
Actress-entrepreneur Anne Curtis is sending her support to Filipinos through UNICEF Philippines.
'Taste Buddies' host Solenn Heusaff urged people to donate to Lokal Lab, a non-governmental organization, for the victims of Typhoon Odette.
'Mars Pa More' host Camille Prats asked everyone to pray for the safety of the victims via her Instagram account.
Celebrity mom Isabelle Daza is sending out her sincerest prayers for the entire country.
Binibining Pilipinas Universe 2011 titleholder Shamcey Supsup called for donations through the Miss Universe Philippines Organization's Typhoon Odette Relief Initiative.
Miss Universe Philippines 2021 Beatrice Luigi Gomez organized relief efforts to help the victims of typhoon Odette, specifically those in her hometown Cebu.
"It's only a few days away until Christmas and yet my heart bleeds for Cebu," she shared on an Instagram post.
Bianca Umali expressed how heartbroken she was upon hearing the devastating news about Siargao.
She also shared a few relief operations and donation drives on her Instagram stories, including initiatives by PAWSsion Project and Lokal.lab.
First Yaya actress Thia Tomalia urged people to help other typhoon-hit areas like Southern Leyte, Negros, and Dumaguete.
She also helped put together the "Bangon Macrohon" donation drive for her hometown, saying, "My home province Southern Leyte is one of the wonderful places greatly hit and damaged by Typhoon Odette...I am humbly asking and knocking on your kind hearts for donations."
Known to many, Carla Abellana is a passionate advocate for animal welfare.
Over the weekend, the To Have and To Hold actress encouraged her followers to help out by donating to PAWSsion Project's relief endeavors for animals in Siargao and Southern Leyte.
Amplifying the call for access to clean water in these struggling communities, the beauty queen-actress lent her platform and actively shared posts made by the Waves for Water Organization.
She emphasized that any form of donation - no matter how small or big - can significantly help the typhoon Odette victims get "back on their feet."
The Bubble Gang star shared about the state of her hometown, Bais, through an Instagram post.
"When typhoon Odette hit, I had no idea how much destruction it would cause. Just like in Surigao del Sur and Norte (Siargao), Leyte, Palawan, Cebu, and Bohol, every province that came across the storm's path needs a lot of help to recover," she said.
Valeen also helped organize much-need relief efforts for the city, raising a little over Php 1,300,000 to feed around 383 families.
Miss World Philippines 2018 Katarina Rodriguez found a home and created a family in Siargao, so hearing about the devastation that the community faced after typhoon Odette was difficult for her to process.
Nevertheless, she braved on and continued to take part in numerous endeavors that addresses the affected communities' urgent concerns, particularly their dire need for clean water.
In an Instagram post, the Kapuso Primetime King shared how heartbreaking it was to come home to such unfortunate news after his recent trip to Israel.
"Maraming komunidad na malapit sa aking puso ang nawasak ng bagyo, pero higit na nakapanlulumo ang makita na marami sa ating mga kababayan ang nawalan ng tirahan, trabaho at, higit sa lahat, mahal sa buhay," he said.
He urged all Kapuso to embody the spirit of bayanihan by offering help to others during these times. He also shared specific details about how they can donate via the Kapuso Foundation.
Miss Universe 2018 Catriona Gray took to Instagram to encourage her followers to support Philippine Red Cross and their relief efforts for the typhoon-hit communities.
"Let's heed the call of our kababayans in Visayas and Mindanao who are facing loss in the wake of Typhoon Odette: the loss of their homes, income, loved ones, and/or livelihood," she wrote.
To help the typhoon Odette survivors, Kapuso power couple Jennylyn Mercado and Dennis Trillo relaunched their relief initiative titled StarTruck. They originally established the project in 2020 to offer help for those severely affected by Typhoon Ulysses.
Former 'T.G.I.S' star Antoinette Taus encourages people to give donations for Typhoon Odette victims through the non-profit organization CORA. They will be giving family relief packages, solar lights, and chargers. They are also raising money to donate a water filtration system to a vulnerable community. Plus, they are also inspiring people to adopt a mangrove seedling in Leyte as part of their long-term mangrove rehabilitation program.
Miss World Philippines 2021 Tracy Maureen Perez, who is a Cebuana, calls for donations for those affected by Typhoon Odette in Visayas and Mindanao through Miss World Philippines' Beauty with a Purpose relief initiative.
'Unang Hirit' and 'Pinoy MD' host Connie Sison shared a video of Typhoon Odette's aftermath in Cebu and encouraged people to give donations to the survivors through the Kapuso Foundation.
Encouraging her followers to donate to the World Vision's ongoing relief drive, 'The World Between Us' star Jasmine Curtis-Smith took to Instagram to shed light on the project for typhoon Odette-affected families in Surigao and Bohol.
She also noted that the organization is currently looking into possibly reaching out to other provinces as well.
Miss Universe Philippines 2020 encouraged foreign nationals and Filipinos abroad to send their contributions to SimplyShare Foundation's relief efforts for the typhoon Odette survivors.
Kapuso actress-cosplayer Myrtle Sarrosa offered her help through Jennylyn and Dennis' StarTruck project. All the donations she has acquired from her latest streams will also be given to this cause.