GENERAL SANTOS CITY, Philippines, 16 JUNE 2026 — Moving beyond immediate shelter and relief support, Color Your World Foundation, the corporate social responsibility arm of Casino Plus, has deployed hundreds of solar-powered utility lamps and fans across General Santos City and Sarangani Province to provide a source of light and temporary power source to displaced families affected by the magnitude-7.8 Mindanao quake.
Casino Plus’ “Color Champions” delivered these solar-powered units across Purok 20 in Barangay Lagao, General Santos City, and the hardest-hit barangays in Sarangani province – New Aklan in the municipality of Glan and Sapu Masla in the municipality of Malapatan.
This is on top of the temporary shelter support through the provision of livable tents, around 2,000 gallons of water, hygiene and medical supplies, and clothing to the affected communities as part of “Project Bigkis,” the foundation’s disaster response pillar.
With local power supply disrupted in some areas and many residents still staying in open spaces due to continuing aftershocks, the portable solar lights provide practical support for families and community leaders managing evacuation sites at night.
“Importante sa amin ang solar lamp lalo na sa akin may dalawa akong babies. Nagagamit ko talaga kasi mainit, tapos ‘yung ilaw, kapag gabi, nagagamit din nila. Casino Plus ang unang nagbigay ng ganitong lamp,” said Princess Albotra, who is also staying in the foundation’s tent village in Purok 20. “Ako mismo nagagamit ko rin ‘yung mga [health] kits para sa hygiene ko bilang babae. Mahirap [bumili], wala kaming pera, income.”
Jovita, a 53-year-old evacuee in Barangay New Aklan in Glan, Sarangani province, expressed her gratitude to Color Your World Foundation for the solar lamps as power restoration in their village is still underway.
“May ilaw na kami. May mga apo ako na [maliliwanagan] sa gabi. Malaking tulong sa amin itong solar at fan. Mainit din kasi,” she said.
The multi-functional solar lamps are intended to help families move safely around evacuation areas, manage basic household tasks, support personal hygiene routines, and care for children, elderly residents, and other vulnerable members of the community during evening hours.
“Light restores more than visibility — it restores hope. In communities where power infrastructure has been damaged or destroyed, solar-powered lamps provide a safe, sustainable source of light that keeps families secure through the night,” said Michael Angelo Horfilla, Casino Plus Director for Corporate Social Responsibility.
Continued coordination between public and private sector partners is essential to ensure that critical relief items are delivered safely and systematically to families most affected by the disaster.
Through Color Your World’s Project Bigkis, the company would continue to provide practical support to displaced communities as relief needs shift from immediate survival to sanitation, safety, mobility, and basic household stability.