The world comes together for victims of Typhoon Yolanda

The Filipino people have always been regarded as a tight-knit race – not even seas, mountains, and time zones can prevent them from extending a helping hand to their motherland. After Typhoon Yolanda caused devastation in various parts of the Philippines, our Kapusos abroad wasted no time in organizing fundraisers just to be able to aid their kababayans who were greatly affected by the destructive storm.

In the US, a range of fundraising efforts were launched for the benefit of the Yolanda victims. They took the form of benefit concerts like “malama” (Hawaiian word for “care”) 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 Philippine Consulate General of New York; and gatherings like “Friends of FilCom: Giving Together to Rebuild Lives” by The Filipino American Communities of Northeast US. Across the nation, special masses are being held for the typhoon victims and prayers are being offered for their perpetual safety and peace.

One of the more notable relief efforts in the US is the lunch fundraiser at the Sunda New Asian Restaurant, organized by the Philippine Consulate General in Chicago. Attendees got to enjoy Filipino food while Sunda co-owner and prominent Fil-Am Billy Dec, Consul General Leo Herrera-Lim, and other members of the Filipino community in Chicago discussed the Philippines’ current status. A condolence book signed by Chicago Mayor Rahm Emmanuel and other dignitaries was also created, wherein people expressed their utmost sympathies through words for the Filipinos affected by the brutal storm.

Filipino-Americans and even Filipino-Europeans are spearheading their own campaigns to show their support to their brothers and sisters in the Philippines. For instance, the Fil-Am communities in Contra Costa County and Vallejo, California are continuously raising funds and donations for their less fortunate brethren. In Europe, the Samahang Pilipina Bern resorted to cake sale and was able to garner thousands of dollars from selfless passers-by without having to sell a pastry.

For the Philippines, the Canadian government allocated around five million Canadian dollars or more than 200 million pesos to support humanitarian organizations that aim to meet the needs of Yolanda victims. Aside from monetary assistance, Filipinos in Canada have begun supervising their own fundraising activities such as the “Alay Concert 2: Rise Up” in Toronto, where priests are the main performers.

Closer to home, the Filipino community in Singapore was quick to respond to the calls of the needy in the Philippines. Officials and staff of Pinoy Star Magazine, Filipino Association of Singapore, Kultura Performing Arts, and Afreight Cargo joined forces to collect and send relief goods to the survivors in the worst affected areas of the typhoon-battered nation. This community service was in collaboration with the Philippine Embassy in Singapore.

In order to help Filipinos overseas who have family and loved ones in the Philippines, some of the GMA Pinoy TV, GMA News TV, and GMA Life TV carriers abroad agreed to allow free preview of the said channels.  Through GMA’s international channels, our Kapusos outside their home country were able to receive updates about the current situation and other developments in the Philippines.

Currently, Filipinos and even those of foreign descent abroad are gearing up for more initiatives that will hopefully hasten the recovery of their ancestral land. In the US alone, more benefit concerts, auctions, a film festival, and a benefit dance by Power ng Pinoy and the Cheryl Burke Dance Studio are set to occur on the latter part of November to the first week of December. Meanwhile, 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.

Indeed, it is heartening to see how the world is coming together for the sake of the Philippines. With many individuals sacrificing blood, sweat, and tears to save lives and restore livelihoods, Filipinos can remain optimistic that soon, they’ll be able to emerge from the debris left by one of the deadliest calamities to ever strike the country with renewed strength and zest for life. — GMA International