Filipinos raise $6,000 for Hagupit’s survivors in Visayas
- Jan 12, 2015
- 3 min read
Filipinos in Hong Kong have organised a joint fundraiser for super typhoon Hagupit’s survivors in Samar and Leyte on December 15th at Junel’s Restobar in Lai On Lane, Sai Ying Pun.
Dubbed “Mic-iisa sa Karaoke”, the joint fundraiser’s proceeds, which amounted to $6,183, were split in half for the respective beneficiaries of the University of the Philippines Alumni Association – Hong Kong (UPAAHK) and the De La Salle Alumni Association – Hong Kong (DLSAA HK).
Among those who attended were local Filipino singer Penny Salcedo, who donated 20 percent of her freshly released “Happy Christmas, With Love, Penny Salcedo” Christmas album. Six out of 10 CDs given to Section Juan were sold.
Another attendee was overseas Filipino worker-turned-famous photographer Xyza Cruz Bacani who took a short break from her camera to flex her singing skills.
“I'd like to thank all those who supported our immediate response to help fellow Filipinos affected by Typhoon Hagupit (Philippine name: Ruby) and those still rebuilding their lives from the wrath of typhoon Haiyan last year ,” says Jan Yumul, President and Founder of Section Juan, a non-profit pioneer peer support group for Filipinos youths in Hong Kong.
“I was also moved by those who could not make it and have made their donations to support the cause. We assure them that it will travel a long way,” she added.
The DLSAA-HK Chapter has included the fundraiser’s proceeds in its third tranche of remittances to its local partner MARCH for Christ in Cebu, led by Lasallian Chito Cusi. The fourth remittance was sent on December 29th. “This will go a long, long way to helping sustain our relief work in the hardest hit provinces in Samar,” says Cathy Yang, President of the DLSAA HK.
The DLSAA HK and MARCH for Christ began the relief work for Samar and Leyte, less than 48 hours after Hagupit made landfall in Dolores. Its first remittance on December 8th, worth over Php28,000, helped beef up the first wave of relief goods distribution in Catbalogan, Calbayog and Balante.
Its second remittance, sent a week later, helped MARCH for Christ distribute more relief bags, this time to affected residents in the hardest-hit provinces in Borongan, Taft and Dolores.
“We are overwhelmed by the generosity of our donors,” adds Yang, “and wish for everyone who contributed to the effort to head into the Christmas holidays feeling peace and joy inside, knowing that we had all helped fellow brethren back home when they most needed it.”
Meanwhile, Eric Panuncialman, outgoing president of the University of the Philippines Alumni Association thanked the co-organisers of the event. The funds raised were donated to UPAA HK’s calamity fund, in which earlier in October this year, was the highlight of a UPAA HK’s tenth anniversary.
The association is continuously supporting the efforts to better the lives of about 300 students who were displaced by typhoon Haiyan and moved to UP Diliman in Quezon City.
Some of UPAA HK’s incoming officers, who were elected during the association’s Christmas party earlier on December 6th, were also present at the karaoke fundraiser.
The 2015 team comprises of Jeko Abila, president, Saturnino Tiamson,Jr., vice president, Rawnna Crisostomo-Low, secretary, Aaron Ceradoy, treasurer, Patrick Brian Angco, auditor, and Euvi Regis Kay, PRO.
Typhoon Hagupit made landfall in Eastern Visayas on December 6th, and gradually weakened as it hit Bicol and the Southern Tagalog regions. It regained strength when it reached the West Philippine Sea on December 9.
According to the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council, more than 940,000 families or 4.1 million persons were affected by Hagupit, leaving 18 people dead and more than 900 persons injured.
To follow typhoon relief operations updates, please visit: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Typhoon-Ruby-Relief-Volunteers/537267749741932?fref=ts
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