By: Jam Bufi

The COVID-19 pandemic has brought out the best and the worst of us. Because social media is saturated with worrying news from around the world, it’s heart-warming to see people unite and show compassion for those in need. Social media is a powerful tool that can be used to help in the fight against COVID-19 and several influencers have recognized this, creating their own various initiatives to extend as much help as they can to those in need.

Here is what ComCo Southeast Asia gathered, a list of influencers who used their positions to help others.

Mimiyuuuh

Popular social media influencer Mimiyuuuh organized a Zumba event via Instagram Live called “Zumbuuuh with Mimiyuuuh for a Cause” last March 27 wherein every view will count as Php 2.00 and will be donated to Caritas Manila and Save San Roque. The event was able to raise PHP 100,000.

https://www.instagram.com/p/B-JwYSrp3S7/

 

Alodia Gosiengfiao

Popular for being an avid video game fan, influencer and cosplayer Alodia Gosiengiao posts livestreams of her games on her Facebook page. But this time, she hosted a charity livestream through Facebook live that was able to raise a total of PHP 45,373.87 or USD 886.05 for the United Nations Foundation.

https://www.facebook.com/AlodiaGosiengfiao/photos/a.10152109105611747/10157226900256747/

The livestream was made through Facebook Gaming, a platform within Facebook where users can set-up fundraising programs during their livestream for various causes around the world. Several other popular gamers also joined the charity livestream, which were featured in the video below.

 

Janina Vela

This beauty and lifestyle vlogger is not only known for her style and make-up tutorials but also for her vocal political opinions and active volunteerism. To help spread accurate information, Janina took it upon herself to do an intensive research on COVID-19 and created a video to share to her subscribers.

She has created other videos since then and keeps on providing tips on how to deal with the pandemic and encouraging others to spread positivity and donate to local charities and initiatives.

 

Rei Germar

This lifestyle, travel, and beauty influencer and content creator set up her own initiative to help provide food for underprivileged communities in CALABARZON through the Keep Going Organization. The funds are also used to aid the homeless and stranded in Paco Catholic Church. Donations are made via GCash through the number 0945 843 8464.

Together with her boyfriend Miggy, they also partnered with Snail White and raised Php 75,000 for Kaya Natin during an Instagram Live, where one viewer was equivalent to Php 10. The fundraising campaign will provide frontliners and health workers with personal protective equipment (PPEs).

 

AC Soriano, Gigi Esguerra, Yani Villarosa, Hershey Neri, The Saranghae Oppa, and Sir Paul Maynard

These YouTube vloggers and content creators teamed up to create the initiative “Gandang Bardagulan 2020”, whose donations will help a number of beneficiaries such as doctors to the barrios, PUV drivers, street vendors frontliners, and more.

https://twitter.com/gigiesguerra/status/1240280630522335234

 

Debbie Fermin

Aside from being an influencer, Debbie is also a licensed Medical Technologist who graduated from the University of Santo Tomas Faculty of Medicine and Surgery together with her twin sister Demmie, who is a licensed nurse. During the pandemic and the enhanced community quarantine, Debbie is offering free online consultation along with numerous other doctors nationwide, as her way of helping her colleagues, the frontliners, in the fight against COVID-19. Those interested can send her a private message on Instagram account at instagram.com/debbiefermin.

https://www.instagram.com/p/B922_8KnAAm/

 

These are just some of the many initiatives that are currently ongoing in the country. While these influencers started these initiatives, the best thing it showed us is the overwhelming amount of support and donations that their initiatives received, proving that the spirit of bayanihan is not lost and that showing compassion and empathy to others can make a huge difference. And we, in ComCo Southeast Asia salute you for this!

Let’s continue to uplift each other during these trying times. Feel free to donate to any of these initiatives so that we can endure this crisis together.