PH town that knows disaster gives back ‘big’ to Japan
MAASIN CITY, Philippines—Mai Sasaki, a Japanese aid worker, was so touched she cried.
MAASIN CITY, Philippines—Mai Sasaki, a Japanese aid worker, was so touched she cried.
Sasaki, a Japan International Cooperation Agency (Jica) community development worker based in Malitbog town in Southern Leyte, witnessed the counting of money collected for a fund drive for Japan at the nearby St. Bernard municipal hall on Friday.
The total amount was not much—P21,574.50—but coming from the residents of Barangay New Guinsaugon, St. Bernard and at least 10 establishments in the municipality, the donation was priceless.
Guinsaugon, the original barangay, was buried by a landslide on Feb. 17, 2006, and about 1,000 people were killed.
St. Bernard town was returning the gesture for the aid it had received then from Japan.
Sasaki was deeply moved by the gesture of the residents of the town, a fourth-class municipality with a population of 23,100.
“She knew the people of St. Bernard were also facing economic difficulties,” said Jane Araneta, St. Bernard’s Municipal Risk Reduction Management Council (MRRMC) information officer.
The MRRMC headed by Mayor Rico Rentuza started a fund drive dubbed “Guinsaugon St. Bernard Gives Back to Japan” on March 15, three days after the devastating earthquake and tsunami hit the northeast portion of that country.
“I know that parting with a P100 bill would take a toll on most of the townsfolk’s pockets. And yet I am here, so moved, witnessing such a sincere humane gesture to help my people,” Araneta quoted Sasaki as saying in an email to the Inquirer.
New Guinsaugon Barangay Captain Beauty Cabacungan said the village conducted a fund drive to express its appreciation for the help extended by Japan in 2006.
Japan sent rescue teams to Guinsaugon immediately after the landslide. Later, Jica built more than 50 duplexes in New Guinsaugon for around 100 families.
Araneta said they would hold another round of collections and turn the money over in 15 days.
Municipal Treasurer Inovencio P. Carbonilla Sr. will deposit the initial collection, which was mostly in coins, to the Japanese Red Cross account as advised by the Japan Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
The total amount was not much—P21,574.50—but coming from the residents of Barangay New Guinsaugon, St. Bernard and at least 10 establishments in the municipality, the donation was priceless.
Guinsaugon, the original barangay, was buried by a landslide on Feb. 17, 2006, and about 1,000 people were killed.
St. Bernard town was returning the gesture for the aid it had received then from Japan.
Sasaki was deeply moved by the gesture of the residents of the town, a fourth-class municipality with a population of 23,100.
“She knew the people of St. Bernard were also facing economic difficulties,” said Jane Araneta, St. Bernard’s Municipal Risk Reduction Management Council (MRRMC) information officer.
The MRRMC headed by Mayor Rico Rentuza started a fund drive dubbed “Guinsaugon St. Bernard Gives Back to Japan” on March 15, three days after the devastating earthquake and tsunami hit the northeast portion of that country.
“I know that parting with a P100 bill would take a toll on most of the townsfolk’s pockets. And yet I am here, so moved, witnessing such a sincere humane gesture to help my people,” Araneta quoted Sasaki as saying in an email to the Inquirer.
New Guinsaugon Barangay Captain Beauty Cabacungan said the village conducted a fund drive to express its appreciation for the help extended by Japan in 2006.
Japan sent rescue teams to Guinsaugon immediately after the landslide. Later, Jica built more than 50 duplexes in New Guinsaugon for around 100 families.
Araneta said they would hold another round of collections and turn the money over in 15 days.
Municipal Treasurer Inovencio P. Carbonilla Sr. will deposit the initial collection, which was mostly in coins, to the Japanese Red Cross account as advised by the Japan Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
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