Local humanitarian actors are on the brink of what could be a revolutionary movement in the global humanitarian space, which is still dominated by huge and powerful international players. In the Philippines, this movement started way before the Typhoon Haiyan catastrophe of 2013. For many communities in the country, local humanitarian actors were always at the front lines of efforts that enabled communities to recover and build back better. INGOs and donor agencies can no longer ignore the call to genuinely transform the sector and enable local leadership to flourish. Key to this transition is the re-balancing of power so that local actors find themselves in decision-making roles, empowered to determine their strategies and actions, and adequately resourced. Conversely, the task to address the deep challenges in the humanitarian system does not lie alone with INGOs and donor agencies. Local actors should claim this space and exercise their power, instead of waiting for others to honor their commitments.