East Coast Fil-Am communities raise funds for ‘Yolanda’ victims

NEW YORK—Just a few days after Typhoon “Yolanda” (international name: Haiyan) wrought havoc in eastern Visayas, various groups in the New York tri-state area quickly launched fund-raising efforts to raise funds for the typhoon victims.

Earlier this week, two fund-raisers happened in the East Village a few blocks away from each other. Pulitzer-prize winning journalist Jose Antonio Vargas partnered with Nicole Ponseca of Maharlika/Jeepney for a fund drive for the victims of the typhoon. Among the evening’s guests were Chef Dale Talde, Filipino actress Cherie Gil and Carlos Celdran. They were able to generate more than $8,500 in cash donations.

A few doors down, Ugly Kitchen was having its own fundraiser, attended by numerous young professionals. As of press time, they were able to raise $7,941.

For two consecutive Sundays starting this weekend, Purple Yam in Brooklyn is sponsoring a prix-fixed brunch for $40. Both events are now sold out. Purple yam owner Amy Besa said she is also organizing a series of about 6-7 dinners in Metro Manila in the next week or so.

“The purpose of these dinners is not only to raise money for the people affected by Typhoon Yolanda, but to raise awareness of the effects of climate change, the need to be prepared for future disasters and how we can take control of how our taxes are being spent. The challenge now is how to rebuild what we lost and help restore dignity in the lives of our people in the south and the rest of the country,” Besa explained on her Facebook wall.

President Obama’s statement of support

President Barack Obama released a statement of support to the Filipinos during these hard times and asked Americans to support relief efforts in the Philippines.

“Our thoughts and prayers continue to be with the people of the Philippines as they mourn so many loved ones and neighbors lost in the awful destruction of Typhoon Haiyan.  Here in the United States, we’re offering our support to our fellow Filipino-Americans who are worried for family and friends back home,” Obama said, “The friendship between our two countries runs deep, and when our friends are in trouble, America helps.  That’s why, as I pledged to President Aquino yesterday, the United States will continue to offer whatever assistance we can.”

The rest of the statement read:

“Our support is rooted in the compassion and generosity of the American people who, time and again, have stepped up and helped those in need around the world.  Today, I encourage Americans who want to help our Filipino friends to visit whitehouse.gov/typhoon, which offers links to organizations working in the Philippines and ways to support their efforts.  With so many families and communities in the Philippines in urgent need of food, water, shelter and medicine, even small contributions can make a big difference and help save lives.

“Meanwhile, the US government continues to do our part.  Our USAID and military personnel are on the ground and working around the clock.  The first American planes carrying emergency supplies and food for 10,000 families have arrived.  U.S. ships, including the aircraft carrier USS George Washington, are on their way to the scene to help expand search and rescue operations, provide logistical support and medical care, and provide a platform for helicopters to move supplies to remote areas.

“Recovering from one of the strongest storms ever recorded will take years.  But the strength, resilience and faith of the Filipino people are legendary, and the areas affected by this storm are some of the same places where Americans and Filipinos sacrificed together to liberate the Philippines during World War II.  Today, our message to our Filipino allies is that we stand with you once more.  In the difficult days ahead, we’ll do our part to help you recover.  And as you rebuild from this terrible storm, you will continue to have a friend and partner in the United States of America.”

Assistance needed

According to a news advisory issued by the Philippine Consulate General in New York, the following items are needed – food (preferably ready-to-eat), water, water purifier, water containers, tents and other temporary shelters, blankets, pillows, towels, hygiene kits, cooking apparatus and utensils, power generators and medicines and medical supplies.Monetary donations may be sent to:

a) National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Center (NDRRMC)

Website: www.ndrrmc.gov.ph

Account name: NDRRMC Donated Funds

Account Numbers:

0435-021927-030 (Peso Account)

0435-021927-530 (Dollar Account)

Swift Code: DBPHPHMM Account No. 36002016

Bank Address: Development Bank of the Philippines (DBP), Camp Aguinaldo Branch, PVAO

Compound, Camp Aguinaldo Quezon City, Philippines 1110

Contact Person: Ms. Rufina A. Pascual, Collecting Officer NDRRMC, Office of Civil Defense, Camp Aguinaldo, Q.C.

Contact Nos. (632) 421-1920; 911-5061 up to 65 local 116

Email: [email protected]

b) Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD)

Website: www.dswd.gov.ph

Account No: 3124-0055-81

Bank Branch Address: Land Bank of the Philippines, Batasan, Quezon City, Philippines

Contact Person: Ms. Fe Catalina Ea, Cash Division

Contact Nos: (632) 931-8101 local 226; cell no. (632) 918-628-1897

c) Philippine National Red Cross (PNRC)

Website: www.redcross.org.ph

Tel: (642) 527-0000

Banco De Oro Philippine National Bank

Peso: 00-453-0018647 Peso: 3752-8350-0034

Dollar: 10-453-0039482 Dollar: 3752-8350-0042

Swift Code: BNORPHMM Swift Code: PNBMPHMM

Metrobank Unionbank of the Philippines

Peso: 151-3-041631228 Peso: 1015-4000-0201

Dollar: 151-2-15100218-2 Dollar: 1315-4000-0090

Swift Code: MBTCPHMM Swift Code: UBPHPHMM

d) Handang Tumulong Foundation, Inc. (HTFI), New Jersey

Website: www.handangtumulong.org

Handang Tumulong is a 501 c(3) tax-exempt organization (Tax ID: 27-1805860) and donations are tax deductible to the extent allowed by law.

Check should be payable to Handang Tumulong Foundation and mailed to P.O. Box 2743 Fair Lawn, NJ 07410. Please indicate in memo “For Typhoon Yolanda Relief”.

Contact persons: Ms. Lita Peña – cell no.: 1-201-232-1742

Ms. Carmen Flores – cell no.: 201-993-1158

Ms. Nelsie Parado – cell no.: 201-960-7965

e) Caritas Manila

Website: www.caritas.org.ph

Peso bank accounts (Account Name: Caritas Manila, Inc.)

BPI #3063-5357-01

BDO #5600-45905

UNION BANK #00-030-001227-5

METROBANK #175-3-17506954-3

For donations in USD, through wire transfer to:

BPI #3064-0033-55 (swift code BOPIPHMM)

PNB #10-856-660002-5 (swift code PNBMPHMM)

f) Philippine Jesuits Foundation (PJF)

Website: www.phjesuits.org

For online donation, please go to www.phjesuits.org/pjf/share.php

The Philippine Jesuit Foundation (PJF) in New York also accepts donations by check. Please write in the memo “Yolanda Calamity Fund” and mail it to:

The Philippine Jesuit Foundation

39 East 83rd Street, New York, NY 10028

PJF is a charitable organization under section 501(c)3 of the US Internal Revenue Code. Contributions are tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law.

g. Ayala Foundation

Website: www.ayala.com.ph

For online donation, please go to www.feedthehungryphil.org/ayala-foundation-inc

h. ABS-CBN Foundation International

Website: www.abscbnfoundation.org

• Put “Typhoon Yolanda Relief” in the memo and send check to:

ABS-CBN Foundation International

150 Shoreline Drive, Redwood City, CA 94065

• For online donation, please go to www.abscbnfoundation.org

i. GMA Kapuso Foundation

Website: www.gmanetwork.com/kapusofoundation

• For online donation, please go to www.gmanetwork.com/kapusofoundation/donation

j. Gawad Kalinga USA

Website: www.gk-usa.org

For online donation, please go to www.gk-usa.org/donations

k. National National Federation of Filipino American Associations (NaFFAA)

Website: www.naffaa-national.org.

Monetary donations can be made through PayPal on its website.

NaFFAA has been designated by the Philippine Disaster Recovery Foundation (www.pdrf.org) as the lead organization in the U.S. to coordinate PRDF’s reconstruction efforts among Filipino American communities in support of Filipinos who are in emergency needs brought about by recent calamities in the Philippines.

l. US-Philippine Society

Website: www.usphilippinessociety.org

Monetary donations can be made through PayPal on its website.

Donors may also send their donations to other private foundations, charity and church-based organizations and other non-government organizations that they know and trust in the Philippines and are willing to partner with them to assist the victims of super typhoon Yolanda.

For Donations in Kind, relief goods and supplies may be sent to the following:

a. Afya Foundation

The Foundation is gathering goods for shipment out of its Yonkers warehouse and requests the public provide supplies, donate funds and/or help sort through and package goods collected for shipment to the Philippines. For a list of needed medical and humanitarian supplies, visit Afya’s website at www.afyafoundation.org.

All goods should be donated/delivered to the Afya Foundation warehouse, located at

140 Saw Mill River Road

Yonkers, NY 10701

Phone: 914-920-5081

Donors planning a drop off at the warehouse are encouraged to call first to schedule their delivery.

Goods will be turned over ABS-CBN Foundation and the Philippine National Red Cross.

b. LBC

FREE shipment of relief donations to the typhoon-affected areas by until 23 November 2013. Goods will be turned over to the Philippine National Red Cross.

Boxes should be addressed to:

Ms. Melissa Ann Matarubbo

LBC Hangar

General Aviation Center, Domestic Airport

Pasay City, Metro Manila

Tel. no. 1-800-338-5424

Locations:

1. 480 Westside Avenue, Jersey City, NJ; T: 1-201-434-8454

2. Bell Shipping, 108 Alturia St., Buffalo NY 14220; T: 1-716-604-7969

3. Hummingbird Forwarder, 129 Dana Avenue, Albany NY 12208

T: 1-518-364-3125

4. Door-to-Door through LBC

No. 6 Rebecca Drive, Apalachin, NY 13732; T: 1-607-625-5602

c. RDR Cargo Express

FREE shipment of relief donations to the typhoon-affected areas. Goods will be shipped to ABS-CBN (Sagip Kapamilya) and GMA Foundation until 30 November 2013.

Locations:

1. 39-12 A 63rd St., Woodside, NY 1137; T: 347-459-2760

2. 76 South Washington Avenue, Bergenfield NJ 07621; T: 201-338-4704

3. 449 Hoboken Avenue, Jersey City, T: 201-471-8262

2. Drop-Off Points of Relief Supplies

Relief supplies may be dropped off at the following places in New Jersey:

a. PHILCOM Center Foundation

Address: 124 Mallory Avenue, Jersey City, New Jersey 07304

Contact Persons: Carmen Flores – 201-993-1158

Monico Rabara – 201-988-5092

b. Pan American Concerned Citizens Action League, Inc. (PACCAL)

Address: 380 Monmouth Street

Jersey City, New Jersey 07302

Contact Person: Linda Mayo – 201-388-1260

201-798-1700

Drop-off hours: 2 pm – 6 pm

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