If there is anything that has shone brightly in 2020, it’s the Filipinos’ bayanihan spirit – the force that brings out the best among people during difficult times. The strength of this bayanihan spirit was once again evident following the onslaught of Typhoon Ulysses and Typhoon Rolly, which devastated provinces like Cagayan, Isabela and Bicol.
Showing the determination of Filipinos to help others in need, more than P3.5-million worth of donations were donated by citizens through the DonationBox.com platform in just over a month after its launch.
DonationBox.com is an all-in-one donation and fundraising platform created by leading software solutions company Multisys Technologies Corporation with the goal of creating a faster, more timely, and more convenient way of activating disaster response and relief operations after calamities or crises.
MultiSys added some two million pesos to consolidate PHP 5.5-million worth of donations that reached 10,000 families in Cauayan, Ilagan, Delfin Albano, Sta. Maria, Sto. Tomas and Benito Soliven in Isabela; Enrile and Amulung in Cagayan; as well as around 1,000 families in Bicol under the local government units of Daet, Labo, Vinzons, Mercedes, Talisay, and Basud in Camarines Norte; Naga, Goa, Pili and Lagonoy in Camarines Sur; and Legazpi, Bacacay and Daraga in Albay.
DonationBox.com itself is the product of the bayanihan spirit of Filipino IT experts. The platform was launched after the company held a 24-hour hackathon with the best of its full-stack developers and elite programmers.
“The bayanihan spirit was strongly felt during the 24-hour hackathon that we held with our elite programmers. It was inspiring to see them at work. It was so intense and emotional—I could feel their innate passion and unwavering dedication to help and do something significant using their technical skills and know-how,” MultiSys CEO and founder David Almirol added.
DonationBox.com has an easy-to-use registration process, a wide range of payment channels to choose from, vast distribution reach; SMS and email notification, and simplified comprehensive analytics that show the consolidated amount of donations and those who donated them, updated in real-time.
Almirol shared that MultiSys is currently forging partnerships with the public and private sectors, as well as non-government organizations and religious groups to ensure the wide reach of donations. Companies and organizations can use DonationBox, free of charge, through the “Partner with Us” button on the website.
“The Philippines is vulnerable to a variety of disasters, and getting help where it is needed can be a logistical challenge. We are confident that with the use of technology, specifically through DonationBox, we can provide a faster and more efficient way of mobilizing support for affected communities. Through this, we can keep the bayanihan spirit alive,” Almirol concluded.
