Relief Efforts for Philippine Typhoon Sendong

As grateful as I am for this amazing year that has passed, my fellow kababayans in the Philippines have been affected by a natural disaster--Typhoon Sendong.

Over 600 people have been killed, 900 people missing and at least 100,000 are left distraught and homeless.

In the spirit of giving and love this holiday season, I ask you to kindly help out in one way or another to those who have lost their homes and their loved ones in one of the most supposed wonderful time of the year.

Some of the items that are needed are blankets, clothes, slippers, hygiene products,and some basic medicines like tylenol or even generic acetaminophen or ibuprofen. Aid is urgently needed to those affected by the typhoon, and the most immediate way to respond is through monetary donations. Red Cross and Gawad Kalinga provide tax-deductible receipts, however, there are also several other ways to give:


1) For those local to the Portland area
During the Simbang Gabi Masses here in Portland (Holy Trinity and St. Therese), we are collecting materials that will be sent to the typhoon victims in balikbayan boxes. The boxes have been paid for by the Catholic priests of our Archdiocese.  Please encourage everyone you know to come to the Simbang Gabi and bring with you your donated items.  Mass at St therese church (Northeast site) is at 7:30 pm  and at Holy Trinity in Beaverton (Westside) at 7pm until December 23.  They will also collect funds to send to the victims. 
 

2) Gawad Kalinga
Operation Walang Iwanan for Iligan, Dumaguete and Cagayan de Oro.  Team GK from nearby provinces are now being mobilized to help the worst-hit areas.  Negros Occidental will help Dumaguete, Bukidnon and Agusan del Norte will help Cagayan de Oro and Iligan, while organizing the local volunteers of the impact areas as well. 
 
They are targeting to initially generate 5000 food packs for the first two days starting December 19 to be simultaneously distributed to the different barangays in the affected areas. I appeal for you to act on this opportunity to be our brothers keeper.  
 
Full details of GK Operation Walang Iwanan and how you can help can be found via 
http://gk1world.com/typhoon-sendong-operation-walang-iwanan
 
You may donate online via www.gk1world.com or through bank deposit to the following accounts :
 
Gawad Kalinga Philippine Peso Current Account # 3101 0977 56 BPI EDSA Greenhills Gawad Kalinga US$ Savings Account # 3104 0162 34 BPI EDSA Greenhills (Swift code: BOPIPHMM)


3) This is from Xavier University c/o Fr. Roberto Yap - This is excerpt from his Facebook message:
Xavier University - Ateneo de Cagayan, in Cagayan de Oro City is assisting the National Disaster Coordinating Council in providing food, clothing and medical assistance to the victims of Typhoon Sendong. Its main campus in Corrales Avenue is open for donations in cash or in kind. The University is also hosting some victims of the disaster in makeshift evacuation centers within the campus and is sending out medical personnel and students for first aid and trauma debriefing. The University Clinic is also open to treat patients. The University Christmas Party scheduled for this evening of 17th December has been canceled with the funds and food for this celebration donated instead to the disaster relief efforts. The University is accepting donations at the Helpdesk set up at the University's front gate or at the Relief Center at the Satellite Canteen near the College of Agriculture building (beside the gymnasium). Personnel and student volunteers are being deployed to buy, pack and deliver relief goods all over the City, under the direction of the University Chaplain, Fr Eric Velandria SJ. Cash donations can be deposited at this account: Account Name: Xavier University Account Number: 9331-0133-63 Bank: Bank of the Philippine Islands, Cagayan de Oro - Divisoria Branch Those who wish to receive receipts for their donations, may email finance@xu.edu.ph with the details of their donation (donor's name, receiving branch, date, amount) for proper acknowledgment. In the days ahead, Xavier University is committed to explore and implement various ways of providing assistance to those affected by one of the worst natural disasters to hit Cagayan de Oro City in recent memory.
 

4.)    Ateneo de Manila based - Simbahang Lingkod ng Bayan contact information.

    Mobile Phone  -   +639497337049
    Email    -   simbahanglingkod@gmail.com


5.) Sandiwa the National Alliance of Filipinoy American Youth (National Youth Alliance of NAFCON)

You may find more information here: https://www.facebook.com/notes/anneberyl-taospusocling-corotan/activating-nafcons-bayanihan-relief-and-rehabilitation-for-victims-of-calamity-i/10150463856294781

Please write checks to “Philippine Forum” and mail or give to Michelle Saulon at 40-21 69th St. Woodside, NY noting for Bayanihan Relief and Rehabilitation Program.

They said that if every Filipino abroad gave $5 each it will amount to millions of dollars.  If the 20,000 Filipinos here in Oregon and SW Washington gave $5 each, that would be $100,000 which means about Php 4.3 million.  We believe that we can help make this happen in our own little way.


Help those who cannot help themselves. Forward this note to everyone you know and, together, we can make a difference!


Thank you!


Welo Rivera
incoming 2012 President of Filipino-American National Historical Society (FANHS) Oregon Chapter, Fellow Filipino and Mother.

Catholic Relief Services Poised to Respond as Super Typhoon Slams Philippines

From: Rivera, John
Sent: Monday, October 18, 2010 8:53 AM
To: CRS-US
Subject: Catholic Relief Services Poised to Respond as Super Typhoon Slams Philippines

MEDIA ADVISORY

CONTACT:  Liz O’Neill                                      Laura Sheahen

                        Catholic Relief Services                 Catholic Relief Services

                        Baltimore                                        Manila

                        (443) 955-7125                               63 (0) 915 772 9319

                        loneill@crs.org                               lsheahen@asia.crs.org

                       

CATHOLIC RELIEF SERVICES POISED TO RESPOND

AS SUPER TYPHOON SLAMS PHILIPPINES

Manila, October 18, 2010--Catholic Relief Services is readying emergency humanitarian aid for families affected by Typhoon Megi, the most powerful storm to hit the Philippines in years. The typhoon struck northeast Luzon on Monday and has already damaged houses, infrastructure, and crops.

"Heavy rains are blanketing northern Luzon following the extreme winds experienced today," says Joe Curry, country representative for CRS in the Philippines. "We are watching for potential flooding and getting access to affected areas."

CRS is working with local dioceses and with Caritas Philippines to respond to the crisis. Arnaldo Arcadia, Emergency Program Manager for CRS, was at a parish outside the city of Baguio during a bad point in Monday's storm. "We took refuge in the parish when the winds were strong and the rain was battering down," he says. He and CRS partners were eventually able to return to the city.

Crop damage is a concern for northern Luzon's impoverished farmers. "The wind has become very strong now," said Father Val Dimoc on Monday from the mountainous Cordillera region. "Upland rice farmers who planted in early July were about to harvest, but their crops have been blown down by the wind."

In the immediate wake of 2009's devastating Typhoon Ketsana, CRS reached over 10,000 people with emergency items like cookware, soap, and buckets.  In the following months, CRS employed survivors to remove flood debris and clear drainage areas. It also rebuilt houses.

CRS has worked in the Philippines since 1945, assisting those in need without regard to race or creed.

Catholic Relief Services is the official international humanitarian agency of the Catholic community in the United States. The agency alleviates suffering and provides assistance to people in need in more than 100 countries, without regard to race, religion or nationality. For more information, please visit www.crs.org.

LBC Branches now offering FREE SHIPPING for in-kind donations

Article lifted from Ondoy Relief Multiply Site

Donations of relief items to victims of Typhoon Ondoy (international name: Ketsana) can now be shipped for free through LBC Mundial Corp. (LBC USA), Hugo Bonilla, the company's president and CEO announced today through a press release.

As an international company servicing the padala needs of Filipinos worldwide, LBC joins in the global efforts to provide assistance to families in the Philippines devastated by Typhoon Ondoy.

All donated items coursed through LBC USA will be sent to only one recipient in the Philippines, LBC Hari ng Padala Foundation (LHPF).  LHPF will in turn distribute the goods to various non-profits that are conducting relief efforts in the affected communities in Metro Manila and Luzon provinces.

"As of Oct. 1, all LBC branches in the U.S. are now drop-off points for in-kind donations to the victims of Typhoon Ondoy in the Philippines," Mr. Bonilla said. This development follows the partnership inked last Sept. 29 between LBC USA and ABS CBN Foundation's Sagip Kapamilya for cash donations.

In addition to waiving service fees for cash donations remitted directly to the Sagip Kapamilya program, LBC has decided to offer its sea cargo service for free after LHPF committed to sorting and distributing the donated items coming from donors in the U.S.

"Before deciding on offering this free service, we wanted to make sure there is one non-profit recipient in the Philippines who will take on the daunting task of sorting the big volume of donated items," explained Mr. Bonilla.

Rules and Box Sizes - All donated items must be boxed and sealed in standard-sized balikbayan boxes.  LBC will not accept open boxes or unpacked items.

Donors in California, Oregon, Washington State, Nevada and Hawaii can only use the 24x18x18 box size while donors in New Jersey, New York, Illinois and Virginia can only use the 28x18x17 box size.

In Saipan, only box size 18x20x22 is accepted while LBC in Canada's British Columbia will only accept the 18x18x30 box size.

All boxes must state the shipper's name and address.  Consignee information is as follows:
LBC HARI NG PADALA FOUNDATION c/o Jose Garcia
LBC HANGAR
General Aviation Center
Domestic Airport Compound
Pasay City

Donors are encouraged to send the following items: canned goods, rice, clothing, footwear, towels, blankets, cookware, utensils and other daily consumables.


For a list of the LBC branch nearest you, please visit: www.lbcexpress.com or call (800) 338-5424

LBC Mabuhay USA Corporation - Portland Location

8028 SE Powell Blvd
Portland, OR 97206-2316
(503) 775-6888

Medical Teams International Sending Aid to the Philippines

According to an article on their website, Medical teams International is "sending 1 ton of medical supplies, valued at $421,045, to care for 10,000 people over three months. We also have medical teams on standby to help." They are also responding to the urgent relief needed in Indonesia and Samoa this week.

To make an immediate and secure gift:

• Go to www.medicalteams.org/donate.
• Call (800) 959-HEAL (4325).
• Send your contribution to P.O. Box 10, Portland, OR 97207-0010. 

(AP Photo/Mike Alquinto)

Update on Typhoon Parma/Peping

Here is a satellite image of Typhoon Peping:

It is said to be Signal #4 already in Bicol. Rainfall in Manila shall commence in 3-4 hours. People are advised to get to high ground ASAP. All we can do right now is hope and pray that it will not devastate our nation state of calamity even more.

New Typhoon Alert

(photo taken from AccuWeather.com)

According to this online news article, another typhoon named Parma is said to be on its way to hit the Philippines again as early as Friday. It is a dangerous threat to the nation that is just recovering from Typhoon Katsana, more commonly known as Ondoy, as it is said to be an equivalent at least to a Category 3 hurricane.


To read more, kindly click on the link above.

If your relatives back at home have not been informed about this and are in contact with them, I suggest keeping them informed about this as well.

Calling Filipinos in Portland!

Mabuhay!

We are now in the process of disseminating information about various ways you can help the Typhoon Ondoy victims in the Philippines from Portland, OR. Please continue to check this website for updates and pray that our plans may be put into action in the next few days!

If you are interested in donating time, money or goods, kindly email me at welo.rivera@gmail.com

Salamat!

Oregon Relief Operations/Donations for Typhoon Ondoy Victims

As most of you might know, Filipinos abroad are currently raising awareness and finding out ways to be able to be part of the relief operations back at home through organizing various fundraisers and alliances among organizations nationwide.

A number of us Filipinos in Oregon are in the process of organizing ourselves to find ways to donate to those affected by typhoon Ondoy. I will keep everyone posted about this but for now, I think what's important right is to be able to inform everyone in Oregon HOW we could help.

If you live in the Oregon/Vancouver area and you would wish to participate in staying in touch and help disseminate information to those who might need it, please email me at welo.rivera@gmail.com. You may also message me on facebook/twitter.

You may also individually send in-kind donations. Instructions may be found in this link http://www.redcross.org.ph/Site/PNRC/wtd.aspx

I would greatly appreciate if those in the area could share this message with others who would like to help out in any way. You may message me via email, facebook or twitter so I can give you my address if you would like to add items to donate.