Pinoys in Middle East helping typhoon victims in PHL
10/05/2011
Even if they’re miles away from home, Filipinos in the Middle East are helping their kababayans who were affected by the rage of typhoons "Pedring" and "Quiel."
In Kuwait, a Filipino community launched a massive in-kind donation drive, while several groups in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) pooled in thousands of Dirham to send to the Philippines.
Typhoon “Pedring" (internationally name: “Nesat") destroyed almost P9 billion in properties and killed 66 people, according to the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC).
Meanwhile, the NDRRMC has recorded 10 deaths and P115 million in damages courtesy of “Quiel" (international name: “Nalgae").
"Kindness in-kind"
Spearheaded by the Filipino Badminton Committee (FBC), the donation drive in Kuwait encourages donations not only among coordinating organizations, but also from other Pinoys and even foreigners.
“This is not exclusive for members—even non-members are welcome. In fact, we appeal for help from everybody," FBC chairman Dr. Chie Umandap told the Kuwait Times on Tuesday.
Umandap said they will not accept cash donations “because we are not from government agencies and cannot process such donations."
According to "Kuwait Times," the FBC and other cooperating groups would take in:
canned goods;
instant noodles;
medicines;
clothes, and
blankets.
Umandap asked Filipinos to consider their donation an early Christmas gift to our kababayans. "If there are other nationalities who wish to donate, you are most welcome and may God bless you," he said.
He also shared that a cargo company will shoulder “at least half of the forwarding expenses."
While pleased that the organizations started a donation drive for typhoon victims, Philippine embassy Vice Consul Rea Oreta encouraged Pinoys in Kuwait to send their help to Philippine agencies like the Philippine National Red Cross (PNRC).
Oreta also urged Filipinos to donate only to legitimate organizations with proven track records.
Pooling ‘help cash’
On the other hand, Pinoy group leaders in UAE encouraged their members to donate money to charities, after they encountered problems with relief boxes in 2009.
“It’s better for us to send cash donations. From past experience, we’ve encountered lots of problems with relief goods either with the customs, safekeeping, [or] with distribution," Benito Valeriano, consul-general in Dubai, told "The National."
Bayanihan UAE, the umbrella group of all Pinoy organizations in Abu Dhabi and Al Ain, said it is donating Dh10, 000 from its standing fund.
Bayanihan president Bal Junio also disclosed that they will ask their 68 constituent groups to raise more funds by October 14, after which they will send the donation to PNRC or to Caritas Manila.
Meanwhile, FilCom—the group’s counterpart in Dubai and Northern Emirates—met on Tuesday evening to discuss how they can help typhoon victims.
FilCom handles 99 community groups in the area.
Alan Bacason, the umbrella group’s governing council president, told The National that they are planning “a community-wide fund-raising campaign."
The fund-raising, however, would need the approval of the UAE Red Crescent Authority.
After “Ondoy" (international name: “Ketsana") swept Metro Manila and neighboring provinces, Pinoys in UAE also donated to typhoon victims.
According to Valeriano, they sent about 2, 000 boxes of relief goods and pooled in a total of Dh800, 000. - with Rose-An Jessica Dioquino, VVP, GMA News
In Kuwait, a Filipino community launched a massive in-kind donation drive, while several groups in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) pooled in thousands of Dirham to send to the Philippines.
Typhoon “Pedring" (internationally name: “Nesat") destroyed almost P9 billion in properties and killed 66 people, according to the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC).
Meanwhile, the NDRRMC has recorded 10 deaths and P115 million in damages courtesy of “Quiel" (international name: “Nalgae").
"Kindness in-kind"
Spearheaded by the Filipino Badminton Committee (FBC), the donation drive in Kuwait encourages donations not only among coordinating organizations, but also from other Pinoys and even foreigners.
“This is not exclusive for members—even non-members are welcome. In fact, we appeal for help from everybody," FBC chairman Dr. Chie Umandap told the Kuwait Times on Tuesday.
Umandap said they will not accept cash donations “because we are not from government agencies and cannot process such donations."
According to "Kuwait Times," the FBC and other cooperating groups would take in:
Umandap asked Filipinos to consider their donation an early Christmas gift to our kababayans. "If there are other nationalities who wish to donate, you are most welcome and may God bless you," he said.
He also shared that a cargo company will shoulder “at least half of the forwarding expenses."
While pleased that the organizations started a donation drive for typhoon victims, Philippine embassy Vice Consul Rea Oreta encouraged Pinoys in Kuwait to send their help to Philippine agencies like the Philippine National Red Cross (PNRC).
Oreta also urged Filipinos to donate only to legitimate organizations with proven track records.
Pooling ‘help cash’
On the other hand, Pinoy group leaders in UAE encouraged their members to donate money to charities, after they encountered problems with relief boxes in 2009.
“It’s better for us to send cash donations. From past experience, we’ve encountered lots of problems with relief goods either with the customs, safekeeping, [or] with distribution," Benito Valeriano, consul-general in Dubai, told "The National."
Bayanihan UAE, the umbrella group of all Pinoy organizations in Abu Dhabi and Al Ain, said it is donating Dh10, 000 from its standing fund.
Bayanihan president Bal Junio also disclosed that they will ask their 68 constituent groups to raise more funds by October 14, after which they will send the donation to PNRC or to Caritas Manila.
Meanwhile, FilCom—the group’s counterpart in Dubai and Northern Emirates—met on Tuesday evening to discuss how they can help typhoon victims.
FilCom handles 99 community groups in the area.
Alan Bacason, the umbrella group’s governing council president, told The National that they are planning “a community-wide fund-raising campaign."
The fund-raising, however, would need the approval of the UAE Red Crescent Authority.
After “Ondoy" (international name: “Ketsana") swept Metro Manila and neighboring provinces, Pinoys in UAE also donated to typhoon victims.
According to Valeriano, they sent about 2, 000 boxes of relief goods and pooled in a total of Dh800, 000. - with Rose-An Jessica Dioquino, VVP, GMA News
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