5 Lessons as a Communicator Responding to Emergencies 

When the 7.8 quake hit, I was on the fourth floor of my apartment in Davao City. 

I can still vividly remember how the strong, violent shake woke me up. I actually counted about two-three seconds, thinking that it would stop, but it didn’t. I immediately ran downstairs barefoot. I left everything behind, my phone, my bag, everything. I didn’t think twice. I just keep running, even with debris falling around us. In that moment, my only goal was to survive and reach a safe place. 

Then it began to rain. Then, power went out.  I saw children crying in panic, some almost fainting, some with bruises. Mothers rushed out with towels wrapped around them. Imagine high school students who were preparing to go to school and employees ready for work, everyone prepared to start the week, then suddenly found ourselves in uncertainty and fear. 

A series of aftershocks followed. 

Work and school were suspended.  

Despite everything… I remain committed to my role as a humanitarian. I continue supporting the emergency response and remain fully engaged in my comms work. 

Experiencing the earthquake firsthand didn’t just test me physically and emotionally; it reminded me of important lessons as a communicator in emergencies.  

1. The importance of checking on each other 

One thing I truly value about World Vision is the strong sense of community. In times of crisis, it is important to check on each other. We activate ‘phone trees’ to make sure every staff member is safe and accounted for. I appreciate the support from my colleagues, especially those in the Mindanao Field Office, who helped me settle during this difficult time. 

Beyond our teams, we also make deliberate efforts to check on our community partners, including local leaders, volunteers, and partner organizations. We reach out to assess their safety, understand immediate needs, and coordinate support where possible, ensuring that no one is left behind. This culture of compassion truly reflects World Vision’s core that ‘we value people’ to both its staff and the communities we serve.

2. Assess needs and work together 

In the first hours and days after an earthquake, coordination is critical. We work closely with local authorities, community partners, and other NGOs to ensure a unified and efficient response. Through networks like the Philippine Inclusive NGO Network (PINGON), we collaborate on joint assessments rather than conducting them separately. This coordinated approach helps prevent duplication of efforts, speeds up response time, and ensures that information gathered is more accurate and reliable for better decision-making. It also reduces the burden on affected communities, who would otherwise be repeatedly asked for the same information.

By working together, we ensure that assistance reaches those who need it most, including vulnerable groups. This enables us to respond more effectively and extend support even to the most remote and hard-to-reach areas.

3. Always respect the people we serve 

As a comms person, this is very important to me. When gathering stories or taking photos, we must always respect the people we cover. Give them space. Protect their dignity. If someone does not want to be interviewed, respect that. 

People affected by disasters are already going through very difficult situations. As someone who experienced it myself, never add to their stress. We must treat our community members as partners. We listen to them and allow them to share their experiences. Their feedback helps us improve our work and better support their needs.

4. Clear communication saves lives 

I observed, especially here in Davao City, that we really have visible signs like tsunami warning, hazard zones, and evacuation routes. This really helps people know what to do. Visibility matters.

Language also matters. If people cannot understand the message, it will not help them. For example, if we use terms like ‘storm surge’ or ‘Intensity VII’ or ‘magnitude this and that’ without actually explaining it, many people may not understand what it means. We need to translate technical terms into simple words that people use every day. Technical language can also confuse people. Also, if we share information in English or through online platforms like Facebook, we leave many people behind, especially those without internet access or those who speak local languages. 

5. Protecting children is always a priority 

Children are among the most vulnerable in every emergencies. While providing emergency aid is important, we must also care for children’s emotional and mental well-being. This includes creating safe spaces for children to play, offering psychosocial support, and providing learning activities that could give them a sense of normalcy. 

Disasters can leave deep emotional effects on children. Sudden evacuations, fear, and uncertainty can affect them long after the event. 

World Vision closely monitors these situations and prepares to support children and families. Protecting children is always a key part of our response. 

Your Support is Urgently Needed  

The earthquake has affected 145,693 individuals, displaced 40,674 people, and damaged 2,505 homes, leaving families in urgent need of support.  

Relief efforts aim to reach families with food, water, sleeping kits, hygiene kits, shelter support, and psychosocial care for children and learning kits to support their continued education.  

These are not just numbers. They are lives disrupted in seconds.  

Your support can help families recover.  

Donate here. 

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ABOUT THE CONTRIBUTOR 

Arnann Jay Agosto has been with World Vision for three years, starting as Communications Specialist under the Childhood Rescue (CHR) Project in Marawi and Cotabato, producing multimedia content to document and promote the impact of CHR Project and the Fragile Context Programmes Approach (FCPA) initiatives in the involved areas. 

He was then seconded to World Vision International as a Digital Content Specialist, where he led content planning, production, and asset management for CHR and NAF programs, focusing on fragile contexts across multiple countries. In this role, he managed post-production workflows, developed social media packages, and oversaw content coordination. He also worked closely with global and regional teams to ensure stories were timely, impactful, and aligned with organizational priorities. 

AJ currently serves as World Vision Philippines’ Field and Emergency Communications Officer, overseeing a team of field-based communicators and the production of impactful child- and community-focused content, while bridging communications between World Vision Support and National Offices. 

AJ graduated cum laude with a Bachelor of Arts in History from Mindanao State University – Iligan Institute of Technology and currently finishing his Master in Development Communication at the University of the Philippines – Open University.