About 30 men helped transfer this small house 100 meters from its original location on the foothills of Mayon volcano on July 14, 2019, in Legazpi City, Albay. Karla Thea Omelan, ABS-CBN News

LEGAZPI CITY, ALBAY – A small community in Barangay Homapon in Legazpi City proved that the Filipino “bayanihan spirit” still exists.

Early morning on Sunday, about 30 men were on a mission: to transfer Rodolfo Sevilla’s small hut, about 100 meters from its original site.

The task was hard. The terrain was uphill, which made it more challenging.

But little by little and with the encouragement from other residents, they accomplished their mission after about an hour.

This was not the first bayanihan for this community.

Jaime Bremon, 67, said they have been doing this since he was young. He said he has lost count on how many houses they have moved through bayanihan.

In this community, everyone lends a helping hand to those who need it, he said.

“That’s how we are here. Anytime our neighbor needs us, we help. If we don’t help them, what have we become then?” Bremon added. He said it has been their community’s tradition.

For 24-year-old Ronald Velasco, it was an honor to help Lolo Rodolfo. This was his second bayanihan and he said he would do it again without hesitation. His body may be tired, but he is proud of what he did.

“It was hard, my shoulders are aching but it was good,” he said laughing.

Velasco prepared pancit partnered with dinuguan as a way of thanking everyone who took part in the bayanihan.

He hopes the bayanihan spirit, the willingness to help one another, will continue to live on in younger generations.