Filipinos abroad organize relief efforts for landslide victims

Various Filipino portals in many parts of the world reported quick-response efforts of Filipino communities to gather money and supplies that would be sent to landslide victims and their relatives in St. Bernard, Southern Leyte. Some of them trace their roots in the province. In Guam, Pacific Sunday News on Sunday that members of the Leyte-Samar Association in Guam, which has about 70 families as members, met to begin gathering help from its members, The news site also mentioned that the Filipino Community of Guam, the umbrella organization of dozens of Filipino groups on the island, has called for an emergency board meeting to discuss relief efforts. Both organizations had sent money and supplies to the victims of another landslide in Southern Leyte in 2003. In Virginia, USA, the Viginian-Pilot, website of Filipinos in Hampton Roads, also gave an account of the activities the Filipino communities organized in response the Southern Leyte disaster. About 24,000 Filipinos live in Hampton Roads, 15,000 of them are in Virginia Beach. Many of them immediately got in touch with the Philippine embassy to learn more about the urgent needs in Southern Leyte. Some local Filipinos gathered Friday night at St. Luke Catholic Church on Salem Road for a special Mass for people affected by the landslide, the Viginian-Pilot also reported. There was a second collection of money after the mass, which would be sent to the diocese of Leyte. Other organizations such as the Philippine Cultural Center of Virginia are expected to organize more activities geared towards raising funds. One Filipino who hailed from Leyte province was even quoted as saying he wished he would win the lottery so he could help more. -GMANEWS.TV