Donate-2-Create began as a small library project for a public elementary school in Sablayan, Occidental Mindoro. Before the rise of the internet and social media, books and libraries were the primary sources of learning and information. However, most public schools in Sablayan had no library, and the municipality’s only public library had permanently closed. Books were expensive, and many families could not afford to own them.

In 2005, a young local woman recognized the need to improve access to books for disadvantaged children. She launched a literacy program to promote reading and support children’s education. Through donations from friends, family members, and nonprofit organizations, she collected books and helped re-establish the library of a local elementary school. With the support of the school principal and teachers, the project became successful and was officially named the Donate-2-Create Program.

After several years, changes in school administration made it difficult for the program to continue. The library’s books and materials were turned over to the school, and many books were distributed to teachers and students. Although the library project ended, it paved the way for a new direction.

In August 2018, two successive tropical cyclones struck Occidental Mindoro, causing widespread damage, loss of life, and displacement of many families. Together with youth volunteers, Donate-2-Create provided emergency assistance to affected children and families, including school supplies, clothing, and hygiene kits. During this response, a strong spirit of volunteerism and community cooperation emerged.

From this experience, the term Sablayanihan was created—a combination of Sablayan, the municipality where the initiative operates, and bayanihan, the Filipino tradition of communal unity, cooperation, and collective action for a common purpose.

The initiative was subsequently renamed Donate-2-Create: SABLAYANIHAN. In 2019, the group was formally registered as a non-stock, non-profit organization with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) under the name SABLAYANIHAN INC.

Today, SABLAYANIHAN continues to work with youth volunteers and community partners in promoting education, environmental stewardship, cultural heritage, and community development. The organization is a member of the Local Government of Sablayan Civil Society Organization (CSO) network and the National Youth Commission’s Youth Organization Registration Program (YORP).