OFWs do their part for Yolanda victims

Tags: Super Typhoon Yolanda
Yolandas huge waves swept away entire coastal villages
Yolanda's huge waves swept away entire coastal villages. A fishing boat which slammed into damaged houses lie atop debris on Sunday, November 10, after super typhoon Yolanda battered Tacloban City on November 8. Huge waves swept away entire coastal villages devastating the province's main city. Reuters/Romeo Ranoco
Filipinos abroad have banded together to send help to victims of the Super Typhoon Yolanda, which devastated parts of the Visayas.

In the United Arab Emirates, Filipinos this week sent home some Dh10,000 for victims.

The Bayanihan Council, an umbrella of 55 Filipino organizations in the UAE, coursed the donation through the Philippine Red Cross, UAE site Khaleej Times reported.

Bayanihan Council chairman Ernesto Refugio said they will continue collecting donations until Nov. 16, the report said.

Refugio added that cash donation were preferable "as we can send them immediately so the victims and refugees will have something to eat and drink.”

Meanwhile, Philippine Ambassador Grace Princesa said there would be more fund-raising activities for Yolanda victims.

“We are sad with what happened and we thank the people who gave their support for our compatriots affected by the typhoon back home,” Princesa added.

'Brunch for a cause'

Another planned fund-raising activity in the UAE is a “Brunch for a Cause”, scheduled for this Friday from,11,a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Philippine Consulate General Office in Al Qusais, news site Gulf News reported Sunday.

A meal will cost each person Dh50 (P587.87), with 100 percent of the proceeds going to relief efforts, the report said.

"This is something else... for the whole country, the whole region that has been devastated," said Matilyn Bagunu, president of the Dubai and Northern Emirates wing of the non-government organization FilCom that organized the brunch.

Bagunu said the brunch aims to raise at least Dh30,000, and it was just one among a series of charity events to raise more funds for the victims.

Other activities being lined up include a walk for a cause.

“We have to, we are going to. This is the worst, we really have to do our best as Filipinos, we cannot just cry here, we have to do something to help them out. Every dirham counts,” she said.

Thailand

A special Mass for victims of Super Typhoon Yolanda will be held in Thailand this Friday, the Philippine Embassy there said late Monday.

The embassy invited the Filipino community to attend the Mass at the Holy Redeemer Church at 6:30 p.m. this Friday, Nov. 15.

"(U)pon representations of the Embassy, the Holy Redeemer Church has kindly agreed to hold a special mass for the victims of Super Typhoon Yolanda/Haiyan," it said in an invitation posted on its website.

The church is at Soi Ruamrudee in Bangkok. Those taking the Bangkok Mass Transit may get off at Ploenchit station. — DVM, GMA News

Tags: Super Typhoon Yolanda

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