The bayanihan spirit lives on in the Kapuso community abroad despite Yolanda

In the wake of super typhoon Yolanda, Filipinos abroad fervently monitored the developments in the rescue and relief operations hoping to gain news of their kababayans in the Visayas Region.
 

As a way of helping these Filipinos outside the country, some of GMA Pinoy TV, GMA News TV International, and GMA Life TV carriers agreed to broadcast a free preview of the said channels.
 
“We support the efforts of the international community in helping the victims of Yolanda,” says Joseph T. Francia, GMA Network Vice-President and Head of International Operations. “Through our international channels, we hope to bring our Kapuso viewers closer to home by providing them with up-to-date information on the developments since the tragedy and details on how they could help in the relief operations.”
 
Filipinos worldwide, despite being separated by land and sea, are once again united with a sense of bayanihan as they endeavor to rebuild their home country together.  Motivated by a common purpose, our fellow Filipinos overseas have made significant contributions to the relief efforts for the victims of the recent typhoon.
 
In the US, a variety of fundraising events were organized for the benefit of those affected by Yolanda. Among them, a benefit concert called “Malama” (which means “care” in Hawaii) by the University of Hawaii and the Philippine Consulate in Honolulu, Hawaii; clothing sales such as the “Philippines Fashion Relief” by the Filipino American Legal Defense and Education Fund and the Philippine Consulate General of New York; a lunch fundraiser at the Sunda New Asian Restaurant  in Chicago organized by the Philippine Consulate General where Sunda co-owner and Fil-Am Bill Dec, Consul General Leo Herrera-Lim, and other members of the Filipino community in Chicago discussed the current state of the Philippines ;  and, gatherings like “Friends of FilCom: Giving Together to Rebuild Lives” by The Filipino American Communities of Northeast US. Special masses and prayers are also being offered for the victims.
 
Along with the outpouring of aid from different institutions and foreign governments, there is no shortage of support from various Filipino communities around the world. Filipinos in Contra Costa County and Vallejo, California are continuously raising funds and donations.
 
In Europe, the Samahang Pilipina Bern held a cake sale which garnered thousands of dollars with passersby donating money even without buying  pastries. Meanwhile, in Singapore, officials and staff of Pinoy Star Magazine, Filipino Association of Singapore, Kultura Performing Arts, and Afreight Cargo, in collaboration with the Philippine Embassy in Singapore, came together to gather donations for the survivors.
 
The support from the international community continues as more initiatives have been planned by various groups in an effort to hasten the rehabilitation. Benefit concerts, auctions, a film festival, and a benefit dance by Power ng Pinoy and the Cheryl Burke Dance Studio were scheduled for the latter part of November until the first week of December.
 

The Philippine Consulate General in Dubai, UAE will organize “Brunch for a Cause and Relief Operations” while Xpress Money, in association with UAExchange, has waived fees among UAE exchange branches in the UAE, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, and Bahrain until December 8, 2013.
 
For details on how you can help, you may visit GMA Kapuso Foundation’s website.