Nanay Bibo - A women run eatery and training space

Dear friend,

Warm greetings from Siargao, and happy Women’s Month. 

As we move through the early months of 2026, we’re filled with gratitude and renewed energy for the year ahead. After a long season of rains and storms that affected homes, livelihoods, and daily movement, the island is slowly welcoming back brighter days—and with it, a sense of lightness and possibility.

Your continued support allows this work to grow steadily, even through changing seasons. We’re grateful to share a few highlights with you.

Here are a few updates since November 2025:

Since our last report, 77 mothers have joined our Maternal Empowerment Program sessions, and 132 supplemental meals have been served, continuing to nourish both mothers and their children during a critical time.

In December, we began a three-part wellness series called “Kaupud” - creating space for mothers to reflect on how they care for themselves and one another. Carrying many responsibilities, mothers often put their own wellbeing last. Through guided conversations, we explored ways to lighten that load and better understand the habits that support or challenge their wellbeing. We closed the year with a joyful holiday gathering filled with song, dance, and small gifts to support the mothers’ self-care.

While our planned livelihood workshops were rescheduled to later this season, this allowed us to deepen the Kaupud series. In February, we continued with a session that began with gentle breathwork and movement for pregnant mothers, followed by reflections on the commitments we make to ourselves and to others.

We were also joined by a Master’s student from the Netherlands, who will be with us from February to April. Her research focuses on women in Siargao and climate change, and many of the women in our program are participating. Their stories will help us better understand lived realities on the island and strengthen how we design and deliver our programs moving forward.

Meanwhile, the Nanay Bibo community kitchen in San Benito continues to be a steady and meaningful space supporting meal preparation for nearby elementary schools and creating income opportunities for mothers.

Looking ahead:

For this Women’s Month, next week we are leading a session to recognize and honor the tremendous value of mothers while guiding conversations and activities that explore what it means to be a woman, and the important roles they hold within their families and communities.

In April, we will launch “Inahan sa Lamisa, Lider sa Komunidad” (Mother at the Table, Leader in the Community) in Nuevo Campo, a remote inland barangay with higher rates of malnutrition. This 8-part workshop series will focus on household nutrition, with sessions held in Nuveo Campo, the San Benito Nanay Bibo community kitchen, as well as a visit to Kolekbibo’s headquarters and social enterprise restaurant.

We will also continue to offer skills-based training sessions inspired by the interests shared during the Women’s Livelihood Conference held last November including craft work, cooking, and home gardening. These hands-on workshops are designed to give mothers the opportunity to explore potential livelihood pathways in a way that is practical, accessible, and aligned with their daily realities.

We have also been invited to bring the Maternal Empowerment Program to Maribojoc, an island barangay where limited access to resources and infrastructure contributes to higher rates of malnutrition, high-risk pregnancies, and teenage pregnancy. This is an important step in extending support to communities that are often harder to reach.

Why this work matters:

In areas like San Benito, mothers are at the center of family wellbeing yet they often face limited access to nutrition, healthcare, livelihood opportunities, and support systems. These challenges are further intensified by climate-related disruptions and geographic isolation.

By bringing together nutrition support, education, safe spaces for reflection, and pathways to future income, the Maternal Empowerment Program helps mothers build not only healthier households, but also greater confidence and agency in their daily lives. When mothers are supported, children are better nourished, families are more stable, and communities become more resilient.

Thank you for continuing to stand with us, believe in the strength of mothers, and help build a future where women and families can truly thrive.

With gratitude and warmth,
The Kolekbibo Team