Lasallians in Hong Kong begin rebuild, help Hagupit victims in Eastern Samar

In what has become a blessed start for 2015, the DLSAA HK Chapter this month began rebuilding lost homes in Eastern Samar following the onslaught of Typhoon Hagupit last December.

The purchase of construction materials for the rebuild was funded by the DLSAA HK Chapter’s latest donation collected in Hong Kong and remitted to its local partner in Cebu, MARCH for Christ, just before the New Year holidays.

“The biggest of all tranches sent over to MARCH for Christ through Lasallian Luis Chito Cusi, has helped purchase 200 galvanized iron sheets and 100 sheets of plywood to rebuild damaged homes in Eastern Samar,” says DLSAA HK President Cathy Yang. “On behalf of the DLSAA HK Chapter, I wish to thank all those who contributed to this effort, including Section Juan, which through their own separate fundraising, dedicated a portion of its proceeds for the DLSAA HK’s rebuild plans.”

Section Juan, a non-profit for the Filipino youth in Hong Kong, remitted HK$1,008 (or Php6,116.60) in proceeds to MARCH for Christ on December 29th, while DLSAA HK Chapter on December 19th sent over HK$5,814.32 (or over Php33,000), the biggest of three tranches of donations remitted since Hagupit made landfall in Dolores, Eastern Samar. “Taken together, the collective amount has allowed us to promptly start our rebuild phase, after completing relief efforts in Samar and Leyte funded by our first two remittances,” adds Yang.

The total donated since December 8th now amounts to over HK$22,000 (or nearly Php130,000), two-thirds of the amount going into the distribution of relief bags in affected provinces such as Catbologan, Calbayog, Sulat, Dolores, Borongan and in some areas in Leyte since December 8th.

The DLSAA HK has likewise worked with MARCH for Christ in Cebu, led by Cusi, for the distribution of relief bags in the hardest hit provinces including Dolores, where Hagupit made its first landfall. The DLSAA HK and MARCH have earlier worked on the Haiyan relief and rebuild of homes in San Remigio, their adopted community in Northern Visayas.

The DLSAA HK is a 135-plus strong chapter revived on June 2013, composed of Lasallians living and working in Hong Kong. Apart from the Calamity Fund it had just set up earlier this month, the DLSAA HK has two other beneficiaries: distressed migrant workers in Hong Kong and underprivileged high school students in the Philippines.

For any inquiries, kindly email at dlsaahkofficers@google.com.

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