By Yong B. Chavez
FilipinOnline.com
FilipinOnline.com
UPDATED INFO BELOW: 9/28/09 and 9/29/09
The worst flooding the Philippines ever experienced in 40 years occurred this past week.
Many of us abroad have a love/hate relationship with our native country. There's no question: we love the people and our family there, the food, the place we grew up in. But we are often exasperated by some government officials and a few of the negative attitude and lack of discipline among kababayans.
But at the end of the day, it is still our Philippines, our people, our family. We shouldn't - we can't - stand by while they suffer.
Here are the facts: There are almost 300 dead; 500 thousand Filipinos are left homeless. Lots of our kababayans were trapped on the roofs for hours: wet, sick, hungry, helpless. People are still missing. Many are still suffering. Rescue is slow. Food and clothing and monetary donations are desperately needed.
There's a sliver of light at the end of this tunnel: Our collective spirit of Bayanihan rose amidst the tragedy. Kababayans and other generous people all over the world are giving and pledging help.
Here are the facts: There are almost 300 dead; 500 thousand Filipinos are left homeless. Lots of our kababayans were trapped on the roofs for hours: wet, sick, hungry, helpless. People are still missing. Many are still suffering. Rescue is slow. Food and clothing and monetary donations are desperately needed.
There's a sliver of light at the end of this tunnel: Our collective spirit of Bayanihan rose amidst the tragedy. Kababayans and other generous people all over the world are giving and pledging help.
Here are some info. I will try to update this list as often as I can:
List of people missing:
Hotlines to check missing persons:
How/where to give help:
Online donation
1.) Red Cross
American Red Cross 1800-435-7669
Philippine Red Cross http://www.redcross.org.ph/
2.) ABS-CBN Sagip Kapamilya
added info 9/28/09: The Foundation is encouraging monetary donations - it is a little difficult right now to receive and ship donated goods. We will be remitting received donations immediately to fund ongoing relief efforts in the Philippines.- Donations can be received online through: www.abscbnfoundation.org (the North American website - including Canada).
- Donations can be made here through credit card or through PayPal.
- Donations can also be received through mailed checks. Please make checks payable to ABS CBN Foundation - Sagip at 150 Shoreline Drive, Redwood City, California 94065
- Pledges can be made through the toll free number (800) 527-2820 Should you have any other queries, please do get in touch with the Foundation. For pledges and other inquiries, please call (800) 527-2820 [toll free] or email foundation@abs-cbni.com or abscbnfoundation.us@gmail.com.
3.) Ayala Foundation USA
Select Philippine National Red Cross from drop down.
4.) TXTPower.org Inc
added info 9/28/09:
5.) Gawad Kalinga
US-based organizations/companies/individuals mobilizing aid:
a. Alliance Philippines or AJLPP
SAGIP TULONG SA PILIPINAS (STP): Accepting donations cash or check. Send to People's CORE, 1610 Beverly Blvd. Suite No 2, Los Angeles, Ca 90026. Donations more than $50 is tax deductible. Material donations drop off ( donations; shoes, clothes, canned goods. medicines etc. ) at ANSWER LA office at 137 Virgil St. Room 203 , Los Angeles, CA 900042.
b. Fil-Am comic Jokoy is organizing help. "Planning a fundraiser and clothing drive for victims of the typhoon in the Philippines. Those of you in the Los Angeles area interested in donating time, clothes or money on Wednesday. E-mail: help@jokoy.com"
c. Shirt The Kids helping typhoon relief. Buy any Sammy tee & we'll donate another tee and $5 to Philippine National Red Cross! http://www.blogger.com/www.pnoyapparel.com
added info 9/28/09:
d. Island Pacific Supermarket is accepting donations at all branches. Goods will be shipped by Alas Cargo on Fridays. Goods will be shipped by Alas Cargo on Fridays.
added info 9/28/09:
e. LA-based performing artists, civic-minded individuals, corporate sponsors, members of the media, who are interested in supporting an emergency fundraising project to raise funds and collect in-kind donations to aid the victims of typhoon Ondoy. Please email CreativeConceptsIntl@gmail.com, or text 323-788-8911.
added info 9/28/09:
f.) Philippine Consulate General, Los Angeles, CA
Vice Consul John G. Reyes
Attn: Mr. Edwin Caraos
Tel: 1(213) 637-3010Cell: 1(213) 268-9990 (Duty Officer)
Email: losangelespcg@earthlink.net
DONATIONS FOR TYPHOON ONDOY VICTIMS:
added info 9/28/09:
g.) Bayan-USA's "BALSA" (Bayanihan para sa Sambayanan, or "People's Cooperation for the People") fundraising effort. "Aid will directly go towards the basic sectors of society – the workers, peasants and the the urban poor who make up the majority of the victims (despite media attention that 'the poor and rich are equally impacted')," said Rhonda Ramiro, Secretary General of BAYAN-USA.
Bank: Chase
Account Name: BAYAN-USA
Account Number: 340-209749-3
If you have any question, contact Ramiro at secgen@bayanusa.org
Account Name: BAYAN-USA
Account Number: 340-209749-3
If you have any question, contact Ramiro at secgen@bayanusa.org
added info 9/28/09:
h.) Xoom offers Fee-Free Money Transfer to Help the Typhoon Ondoy Relief Efforts. Money is transfered to the Philippine National Red Cross (PNRC). You can donate to the relief efforts by visiting Xoom.com and entering the coupon code“HELPONDOY” to make a fee-free money transfer donation to the Philippine National Red Cross. This special coupon code is valid until Friday October 9, 2009.
How to Use Xoom to Help the Typhoon Ondoy Relief Efforts
Use the following steps to make a donation to the Philippine National Red Cross (PNRC):
Step 1 – Sign up for a Xoom.com account, or sign in to your existing Xoom.com account.
Step 2 – Select Bank Deposit as a disbursement option.
Step 3 – Enter the following Recipient Name and Bank Account details:
Recipient Name: Philippine National Red Cross (PNRC)
Bank Account Details:
The following Philippine National Red Cross (PNRC) bankaccount details will be needed at the time of the transaction.
You can enter any one of the following bank accounts to make their donation:
PNRC Peso Accounts:
• Banco de Oro – Peso Account: 453-0018647
• Bank of the Philippine Islands - Peso Account: 4991-0010-99
• Metrobank – Peso Account: 151-3-04163122-8
• Philippine National Bank – Peso Account: 3623-3680-0011
• Banco de Oro - Dollar Account: 453-0039482
• Bank of the Philippine Islands - Dollar Account: 8114-0030-94
• Metrobank - Dollar Account: 151-2-151002182
• Philippine National Bank - Dollar Account: 375-283500026
Enter Recipient Address and Phone Number:
Philippines National Red Cross National Headquarters
Bonifacio Drive, Port Area Manila 2803, Philippines, Phone Number: 632 527 0000
Step 4 - Enter the coupon code "HELPONDOY" at the bottom of the Payments page.
added info 9/28/09:
h) GMA Kapuso Foundation
added info 9/29/09
i) UN World Food Programme has identified at least 178 000 families in need of immediate food aid. Go to https://www.wfp.org/donate/ondoy to donate.
added info 9/29/09
j) Enderun Culinary College in the Philippines is accepting raw food or canned goods to be brought to Enderun College, 1100 Campus ave formerly Park Ave. Mckinley Hill, Fort Bonifacio. They will cook it and package it up. 700 people fed and counting. Red Cross is picking up and distributing the food. Volunteers to cook and or pack the food are welcome as well. They need more bottled water and milk tetra packs. (Info care of: http://ondoy-assistance-info.blogspot.com/)
added info 9/29/09
k) GABNetLA - Saturday Oct 3, collection @ SIPA 3200 W. Temple St, LA 10 am-7 pm. Please bring diapers, formula, blankets, baby clothes.
I WILL UPDATE THIS LIST AS INFORMATION BECOMES AVAILABLE. PLEASE LET ME KNOW IF YOU HAVE OR NEED MORE INFORMATION. -Yong
