More than 1,000 residents sought refuge inside Tinabanan Cave, climbing 32 feet of slippery soil and limestone to escape the super-typhoon that struck on November 8. Lorna dela Pena, 66, was alone during the disaster, recalling how everything was destroyed by the storm. Despite feeling disoriented, she managed to evacuate to the cave, which has provided shelter since colonial times. She mentioned that stairs were finally added to the cave after the Haiyan disaster, fulfilling her grandfather's dream. While providing hot porridge to evacuees, dela Pena realized the significance of local organizations in enhancing community resilience to extreme weather conditions brought about by climate change. She emphasized the power of unity in helping others, highlighting that collective efforts can achieve what individuals cannot. Inspired by this, she collaborated with others in Marabut to establish women's groups addressing various issues. These groups now spearhead workshops on organic farming, facilitate conversations on gender-based violence, and promote the adoption of renewable energy among women in the community. Azucena Bagunas, 47, and dela Pena are part of a group of individuals called "solar scholars" who were trained by the Institute for Climate and Sustainable Cities (ICSC) in the Philippines. The ICSC is a nonprofit organization that promotes low-carbon development and climate resilience. Following Typhoon Haiyan, also known as Yolanda, Bagunas and dela Pena learned how to operate portable solar-powered generators called TekPaks in order to better prepare for disasters. These TekPaks are used during evacuations, providing light in dark caves like Tinabanan and charging mobile devices to maintain communication. Bagunas recalled a moment when the TekPak technology helped save a life by powering a nebulizer during an asthma attack. Bagunas and dela Pena are teaching other women how to operate TekPaks and educating them on the advantages of renewable energy. In Marabut, women now ensure their solar-powered equipment is charged before a storm hits so they can evacuate their communities safely. Bagunas emphasized that using solar energy is more cost-effective than relying on coal-fired electricity from the grid, stating that having a solar panel can provide affordable and reliable power without the need to pay for electricity. Bagunas also prefers solar energy as a safer alternative. In June, her brother's house next door caught fire due to a live electricity wire hitting the roof, causing damage to some parts of her own house. According to 2020 data from the Department of Energy, the majority of the Philippines' energy still comes from coal and oil, with only a small percentage from renewable sources. However, the government aims to increase the use of renewable energy, such as solar, to make up half of power generation by 2040. Chuck Baclagon, Asia regional campaigner for 350.org, supports the efforts of ICSC to bring solar power to communities in order to expand clean energy locally. Today's centralized power system, which relies on fossil fuels, is not effective in addressing energy poverty in remote island areas, according to him. He stated that transitioning to solar energy proves that it is affordable and dispels the belief that a transition is not possible. Fossil fuels are expensive due to their imported nature, making them volatile in the market. On the other hand, renewable energy sources like solar are easier to build locally as they utilize what is readily available and have high potential in specific locations. Leah Payud, resilience portfolio manager at Oxfam Philippines, mentioned that her organization supports initiatives to introduce solar energy in poor rural communities, especially to help women and children who are most vulnerable to climate change. She stated that women's unpaid care work and domestic work doubles during disasters, further burdened by the need to find energy sources for these tasks. Women struggle to cook in clean kitchens and lack electricity for tasks like breastfeeding or sanitizing equipment. Therefore, women should be involved in promoting clean, affordable energy as they are the main users and producers. Without their involvement, renewable energy initiatives may not be suitable. Gender justice is essential for climate justice. To introduce women to renewable energy, a good method is to have them create a 24-hour clock detailing their household chores and the energy they use for them, according to Payud. Afterward, they can discuss with Oxfam staff how changing energy sources could help reduce their workload, making the concept more relatable. This exercise has shown that many women spend at least 13 hours daily on unpaid family care work, a burden that has increased during the COVID-19 pandemic due to home-schooling. In energy-deprived areas like Suluan Island, where women have to collect water and are at risk when venturing out after dark, solar lights have proven to be more reliable than oil lamps as they eliminate the need to cross the sea to purchase fuel. Payud stated that solar energy is the most reliable source of power during disasters, especially when the main power supply is disrupted and travel between islands is not possible. She pointed out that after Haiyan, it took six months to restore grid power in remote communities, a situation that could have been avoided if women had access to alternative energy like solar. Dela Pena and Bagunas believe that women should take the lead in addressing climate change and energy poverty because they are typically the first to step in and manage family issues, acting as "shock absorbers". Bagunas added that women are often the ones who try to resolve problems as soon as they arise.