Relief Operations of Progressive Partylists/Organizations:

Migrante International's Oplan Sagip Kababayan

 

Posted: October 6, 2009

 

Bayan Muna      Kabataan Partylist       Migrante International     Serve the People Brigade    Dita tree saved 36 lives

 

All UP Workers Union    Gabriela    AllUPWUAEU    Salinlahi     Anakpawis1     Anakpawis2     Bayan Muna in Brgy. Maybunga

 

 

 
   
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Photos courtesy of Migrante International
           
           

 

September 30, 2009
PRESS RELEASE
Reference: Garry Martinez / Chairperson/ 09393914418

OFWs do a ‘bayanihan’ for Ondoy victims

‘The announcement spread like wildfire and the pour of support came like rainstorm.’

This was how Migrante International chairperson Garry Martinez described their efforts to gather support from Filipinos abroad for the victims of typhoon ‘Ondoy’. Their campaign for relief dubbed as “Operation Sagip Migrante” has two components – generation of resources abroad and relief and clean-up operations in affected areas.

According to Martinez, after sending an urgent situation briefer last Saturday while ‘Ondoy’ was still ravaging Luzon, their member organizations around the globe quickly built a system of ‘bayanihan’ in their own cities and countries to gather financial and material support for affected relatives and fellow Filipinos in the Philippines.

Migrante International reported that their members and chapters in Europe, Middle-East, South Korea, Japan, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Australia, New Zealand and the USA are now accumulating support in various ways and are also in the process of sending it to the National Office in Quezon City.

Migrante noted that although the OFWs are particularly concerned with their own families, they want to make sure that the help they gave will benefit all.

Martinez, who resides in heavily affected Rizal, stated that “Ondoy may have destroyed our houses and office, but it did not prevent us in helping our countrymen. Immediately after the storm, Migrante, with the donations abroad, distributed relief items in communities in Caloocan and Quezon City.”

“In our relief operations, what is common among the people aside form devastation, is their utter dismay with the governments lack of assistance. They were even particularly angry with Gilbert Teodoro, who boasts of programs on disaster relief. The only help they got was from neighbors, media groups and other kind-hearted institutions” said Martinez.

“Pinapatunayan ng karanasang ito na ang tanging sandata sa pagbangon sa krisis ay ang pagbubuklod at sama-samang pagtutulungan mismo ng mamamayan,” exclaimed Martinez.

Migrante is scheduled to hold relief and clean-up operations on the next few days in communities in Bagong Silang (Caloocan), Barangay Katipunan (Quezon City), Tumana Bridge (Marikina) and areas in the province of Rizal. ###

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http://migrantecampaign.ning.com
#63 Narra St., Brgy.Claro, Project 3, Quezon City
Telefax: 4210768

 

Oplan Sagip as of September 30, 2009

 
     
     
           
     
     
     
     

UNIFIL-MIGRANTE-HK <secretariat@unifil.org.hk>

Dear friends,

We are touched by the outpouring of support we got since we released our appeal for donations for the victims of typhoon Ondoy (international code name Ketsana) yesterday morning.

As of today, we have already received HK$57,800 cash donations and pledges.

Some Churches have already informed us that they will allow us to set up donation collection desks in their places while the others are committing to donate the collections from their services.

Also, please note that we have changed the bank account information in our appeal letter so that donations of HK$100 or more will be tax deductible. For those who are making direct money transfers or deposits to our account, please send us a copy of the transfer/deposit slip for accounting purposes and for us to issue the official receipt.

For your reference, below are the details of the new bank account:

Payee: MFMW Limited
A/C #: 210 116448 883
Bank: Hang Seng Bank

Fax no.: 2526-2894
E-mail: secretariat@unifil.org.hk

Meanwhile, we have started to deliver relief goods in the Philippines. Yesterday, staff members and volunteers of MIGRANTE International, our main partner in Manila, went to Brgy. Holy Spirit and distributed around 200 bags of relief goods with rice, canned goods and bottled water.

On their next round to be held on October 1, they will go to Munoz, Caloocan City where the creek washed out an estimate of over a hundred houses.

On this same day (Oct. 1), MIGRANTE will join a clean-up operation in the urban poor areas in Makati City. As you are probably aware (from media), the floods left the whole city deep in mud. A medical mission is also on the way with the first one to be held on October 5.

These efforts are part of the multisectoral operations of BALSA.

Meanwhile, as the water level in the flooded areas of the country subsides, the true extent of the destruction is just unraveling.

Death toll is now 310 and is still rising. Food and water supply for affected areas are extremely insufficient. With people cramped in makeshift evacuation centers many without water supply and toilets, people especially children are starting to get sick. Medical supplies for flu, colds, skin allergies, diarrhea and other diseases are very much needed.

Unfortunately, another tropical storm is expected to hit the Philippines later today or tomorrow.

We will give you another update as soon as we get more information from our Philippine-based partners. Hopefully, we will be able to post some photos of the relief operation next time.

For those who have generously donated to our relief operation, we thank you from our hearts.

Once again, we are calling to all for your generosity and urge you to continue to donate to this humanitarian initiative. Your help and assistance will surely save lives.


Sincerely yours,

Eman Villanueva
for Operation Migrante Sagip Kababayan
(Operation Migrants Rescue Compatriots)


The “Operation Migrante Sagip Kababayan” (Operation Migrants Rescue Compatriots) is a joint emergency relief operation by MIGRANTE International; Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (BAYAN-HK); Gabriela Hong Kong; United Filipinos in Hong Kong (UNIFIL-MIGRANTE-HK); Abra Tinguian Ilocano Society (ATIS); Cordillera Alliance in Hong Kong (CORALL-HK); Filipino Migrant Workers’ Union (FMWU); United Pangasinan Hong Kong (UPHK); Asia Pacific Mission for Migrants (APMM); Mission for Migranmt Workers (MFMW Ltd.); and the Bethune House Migrant Women’s Refuge.

This initiative is part of the multi-sectoral efforts of BALSA or “Bayanihan para sa Sambayanan”. BALSA is a BAYAN-initiated network put up more than 10 years ago to concentrate on relief for victims of natural and man-made disasters in the Philippines.

United Filipinos in Hong Kong (UNIFIL-MIGRANTE-HK)
2/ F., New Hall, St. John's Cathedral,
4 Garden Road, Central, Hong Kong SAR
Tel. (852) 3156-2447
Fax. (852) 2526-2894 / 2735-4559
E-mail: secretariat@unifil.org.hk

 
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
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29 September 2009
 

Dear Friends:

Migrante Aotearoa New Zealand launched its appeal for Filipino communities to immediately extend assistance to Ondoy victims.

We would greatly appreciate if the following announcement can be reposted in your publications/websites to reach more readers who are based in New Zealand. Thank you very much.

29 September 2009

DEAR FRIENDS:

Last Saturday, 26 September, Typhoon Ondoy heavily flooded the Philippines. To date, the death toll reached over 100, others remain missing and tens of thousands were left homeless. Many are crying out for drinking water, food and clothing.

Migrante Aotearoa New Zealand and Migrante chapters around the world are now appealing to compatriots and friends to gather financial donations for the victims. Migrante International (Manila-based office) is also currently assisting OFWs who have difficulties reaching their families in the Philippines. If you have friends who need assistance please provide us a list of relatives/friends you need to check.

The victims need all the help they can get in the face of inadequate government resources and personnel.

For those who can send financial assistance, we encourage you to donate through the Migrant Action Trust (MAT). You can get 1/3 back of your donation as rebate since the MAT is a registered charity. Donate at ASB Account No. 12 -3077-0509589-00.

We enjoin all Filipino organisations and communities as well as friends in New Zealand to support this cause. It will certainly take a long time for the homeless families especially those who lost loved ones to recover from this tragedy. Your generous support to ease their sufferings will be greatly appreciated. Please notify us via migrante@xtra.co.nz when you have sent donation.

Thank you very much.



Dennis Maga
National Coordinator
Migrante Aotearoa New Zealand

____________________________________________________
Migrante Aotearoa | 34 Titirangi Rd, New Lynn, Auckland 1007
+64 9 8276059 |migrante@xtra.co.nz | migrantenz.blogspot.com

"We speak out because we have rights!"
 
     
     
           
     
     
           

 

HELPING VICTIMS OF ONDOY: OPERATION SAGIP ng MIGRANTE
 

September 30, 2008

Vancouver, B.C. -- MIGRANTE B.C. is urgently asking for help from its network, the Filipino community, and the Canadian public after a heavy nine-hour rainstorm from tropical storm Ondoy battered Metro Manila and nearby provinces on September 26 and left over 200 people dead and thousands of submerged houses and damaged properties.

MIGRANTE B.C. takes the lead in OPERATION SAGIP ng Migrante, the international relief effort of MIGRANTE International, here in Vancouver. There are Migrante chapters in several cities in Canada and the U.S., Asia-Pacific, Australia, and Europe and in the Middle East.

Contributions to help the victims and to support relief operations can be made at any branch of the Van City Bank under the Migrante account of Relief Fund for Ondoy, Account # 631770, Branch 3, Van City Bank. Migrante BC will issue charitable receipts, on request, for any contribution of $25 dollars and up. Contact Migrante at 604.408.0830 or at migrante_bc@ymail.com.

Dry goods can be dropped off at Lakeview Multicultural United Church at 2776 Semlin Drive Vancouver, BC V5N 4R6 - (604) 874-3366, through Mr. Randy Bentayen. Local churches can also coordinate their local support with the churches in the Philippines, particularly through the National Council of Churches of the Philippines (http://www.nccphilippines.org/) which has been consistent in ensuring that help gets to those who need it the most.

BAYAN Canada has also joined the BALSA or "Bayanihan para sa Sambayanan" efforts by collecting financial support for the relief efforts in the Philippines. BALSA is a BAYAN-initiated network to concentrate on relief for victims of natural and man-made disasters in the Philippines. Please contact Beth Dollaga of the Canada-Philippines Solidarity for Human Rights in Vancouver, which is a partner of Bayan Canada and the NCCP at (604) 320-0285 or at cps_hr@yahoo.ca

Typhoon Ondoy's Wrath

According to various data gathered by the Citizens’ Disaster Response Center (CDRC) the number of families affected by Ondoy increased to 89,116 families or 448,454 persons. It continues to monitor the widespread devastation and mounting death toll and displaced families. The total cost of damage has already reached P108.9 million. The damage to infrastructure has reached P108.7 million; and to agriculture P212,53(Bulatlat, Sept.29,2009).

Typhoon Ondoy dumped the heaviest rainfall on Metro Manila in more than four decades; a total of 455 millimetres of rain fell in Quezon City alone in 24 hours, causing the worst flooding in the Philippine capital in the last 40 years.. Worst hit are Marikina, Cainta, Taytay and Quezon City and the surrounding provinces like Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, and Zambales. Folks are lamenting that as usual, Philippine government rescue operations are slow, inadequate and inefficient.

MIGRANTE B.C. is also asking those who have families and friends back in the Philippines to encourage them to get in touch with MIGRANTE and donate cash or in kind: clothes, bottled water (tap water has become non-potable), banig (woven mats) and blankets, rice, canned goods, coffee and sugar are the priorities. MIGRANTE International can be reached at 10 Banuyo St. Project 3, Q. C.

For more information on the Operation Sagip ng Migrante, call 604. 408.0830 or email migrante_bc@ymail.com. ###
 
     
     
           

 BONUS TRACKS

Various scenes in Taytay and other areas served by Mingrante's Oplan Sagip Kababayan

Photos courtesy of Migrante International
           
     

 

Press Release
07 October 2009
Reference: Anne Beryl Corotan, Email: sandiwa.national@gmail.com; Phone no: 347 867 0330.

Broadway and Filipino-American Artists Come Together for Typhoon Ketsana Victims

Before the flood waters in Metro Manila had time to recede, Broadway stars, young Filipino-American artists, and community supporters gathered in New York City to educate and fundraise for victims of Typhoon Ketsana, which ravaged the Philippine capital city with gusty winds and torrential rains on September 26.

SHINE, a benefit event for victims of Typhoon Ondoy (Ketsana) in the Philippines was held at the Bayanihan Filipino community center in Woodside Queens last October 2. The show, sponsored by Sandiwa (National Alliance of Filipino American Youth) and National Alliance for Filipino Concern (NAFCON), promoted the Bayanihan spirit in the local community in Queens as a response to the recent tragic events in the motherland.
John-Flor Sisante, an organizer and performer of the event wrote on a facebook message addressed to those who attended,”I just want to thank you from the bottom of my heart for making SHINE a successful event! The donation will help tremendously in making the lives better for Filipinos affected by the typhoon,”John-Flor was born in Quezon City, one of the areas affected by the typhoon.

Other performers of the benefit are Koba, NYFP, Hanalei Ramos, Melanie Dulfo, Jackelyn Mariano, Kali Martial Arts of the Young Educators for Health and Empowerment of the Youth (YEHEY), Ryan Bandong, and Napon Pintong who showcased their talents in poetry, Filipino martial arts, spoken word and rap.

“It is truly amazing how these beautiful young artists came together in such a short notice to help out our brothers and sister back home. Last Friday’s benefit had proven once more that the Bayanihan spirit, the spirit of unity, is alive. It shines brightly in these dark and trying times,” Hanalei Ramos, another organizer of the event and member of Filipinas for Rights and Empowerment remarked.

"The government's directives on taxing donations for Ondoy victims which are not coursed through its Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) still does not stop us from coming together to use our talents for a good cause. We'll definitely find ways. We will continue to gather all these donations that the members of the community willingly give and will make sure that these will be sent to the rightful recipients and will not fall into the hands of our corrupt officials," Anne Beryl Corotan, President of Sandiwa National Alliance of Fil-Am Youth said.


On October 3, another benefit show was held at the Triad Theatre in Manhattan, New York. Dubbed, “Halo Halo Cabaret”, the event raised both awareness for the situation in the Philippines and funds for the victims of Typhoon Ketsana. Tess Paras, a Filipino actress, was the main organizer for the event.

“Being here, I wanted to do something, and since we already have a strong group of performers in New York, we felt that with our talents, we can come together to help. Luckily, the Triad Theatre was generous to lend the space, so we immediately coordinated with NAFCON, and we made the Halo Halo Cabaret possible,” stated Paras, who also read a letter from her cousin in the Philippines writing about the damages Ondoy had done.

Julia Camagong, vice president of NAFCON and Co-Executive Director of Philippine Forum, one of NAFCON's member organizations in the North East, said, "It's good to see all these artists coming together and we're doing all we can to have all your donations reach the victims of typhoon Ondoy despite the Philippine government giving us a hard time in achieving this goal. We're fighting this and we won't let the Filipino community here in the US down."

Performances by Erin Quill (Avenue Q), J. Elaine Marcos (A Chorus Line), Jason Ostrowski (Company), Albert Guerzon (Mamma Mia), Ester Barosso (West end Miss Saigon) and artists such as Akiko Hiroshima (Happyfunsmile), and Christian Almiron (Jazz Pianist) made the night a delightful mix of musical and comedy performances.

Proceeds from both events will be donated to NAFCON and SanDiwa’s Bayanihan for Typhoon-Ondoy Relief program, a nationally coordinated campaign to send relief to hardest hit areas in the Philippines. All donations from NAFCON and SanDiwa's relief campaign will be channeled through Migrante International, the alliance of Filipino migrant organizations all over the world and one of the people's organizations facilitating relief efforts in the Philippines with its Oplan Sagip Migrante.
For more information or to monitor updates, and other events, please visit http://bayanihan4ondoy.wordpress.com. Drop off center for the North East region will be at NAFCON and SanDiwa's National Office, the BAYANIHAN Filipino Community Center, 40-21 69th Street, Woodside NY 11377. Please call Anne Beryl (516) 9011832 or email at sandiwa.national@gmail.com.###
 
     
     
     
     
     
     

Operation Migrante Sagip Kababayan

(Operation Migrants Rescue Compatriots)

An emergency relief program for the victims of flooding in the Philippines

 

UPDATE NO. 3

10 October 2009


Dear friends,

 

After 12 days of relief drive, we are happy to inform you that we are able to collect a total of HK$98,691.40 of cash and cheque donations.


Out of this amount, HK$83,000 were given to “Sagip Migrante” relief mission in the Philippines, the “Bayanihan Alay sa Sambayanan (BALSA)”, and more than 20 Filipino migrant workers in Hong Kong who were directly affected by the flood caused by typhoon Ondoy. The “Sagip Migrante” is the relief mission being run by MIGRANTE International and is supported by its members in Hong Kong, South Korea, Australia, New Zealand, USA, Canada, Middle East and Europe. The “BALSA” is the multi-sectoral relief operation led by BAYAN Philippines. “Sagip Migrante” is also part of “BALSA”.


From September 29 to October 5, Sagip Migrante distributed bags of relief goods to 770 families (almost 4,000 individuals) covering the areas of  (1) Brgy. Holy Spirit in Quezon City, (2) Caloocan, (3) Brgy. Katipunan, Muñoz, Proj.8, (4) Taytay, (5) Montalban. BALSA in their “Serve the People Brigade” served 600 families with relief goods and provided free medical services to more than 80 people in Bagumabayan, Quezon City and Kalawaan in Pasig City.


A soup kitchen was also setup and was able to feed 600 individuals. A total of 8 cans of “Taho” (sweet tofu) were also distributed. Migrante International also sent 14 volunteers to help in the clean-up drive of Tumana, Marikina last October 1.


Meanwhile, Migrante will continue to conduct relief missions to Sauyo, Quezon City, another round in Bagong Silang and others areas still unreached by relief missions while BALSA will be going out of Metro Manila on October 14 to distribute relief goods to 5,700 affected families in Pila and Mabitac, Laguna.


A bag of relief goods contains 1-2 kilos of rice, 2 cans of sardines or corned beef or 2 packs of noodles, bottled water (either 2 bottles or a liter), and biscuits/loaf bread.


As mentioned in our earlier advisories, both Sagip Migrante and BALSA relief missions, our partners in Manila – are directly distributing the goods to the affected communities. This ensures that relief reached the intended recipients faster and hassle-free. In fact, our volunteers delivered the relief goods literally house to house in makeshift boats in areas that are still flooded.


While we are still a long way from over in responding to the needs of the tens of thousands of families affected by the flooding, your contributions have already made a difference. Our relief goods that were funded by your generous contributions have already reached the tables of hundreds of families who are already suffering from thirst and hunger.


Your donations may have already saved lives.


We want to thank our generous donors – Pacific Basin Shipping (HK) Ltd., one of the first to respond generously. The St. Johns Cathedral and the Kowloon Union Church for allowing us to setup donation desks in their Churches.


To our friends James Dunlap, Sandee Lee, Wong Mei Wan, Arceli S. Dino, Chan Chi Ping, Candy Ching Wai Ling, Tse Kam Keung, Choi Yeung Mee (Shatin), Pang Yee Fung (Shatin), David Pierce, Ho Ka Yan, Wong Kam Wing, William Lo Yu-Hang, Steven Cheung, Poonam Rani, Aelefa Kwong, Henry Lam, Daigoro Oyama, David Turnbull, Richard Hext, Paula Chan, Yoyo Chu, Ian Dalgleish and Alex Slee for sharing your blessings to the victims.


To Christopher Percy, Suresh Prabhakar, Simon Chan (Capt.), Sunil Sahny, Xiu Cheng, Canmy Tam, Kathy Liem, So Kam Tung, Beryl Nisha Rebello, Tess Aquino, Elsa Li, Lode Van Leuven, Rajesh Jayaraman, T.Y. Chan, Claudia Cheng, C. Kocherla, Jay K Pillai, PK Cheung, Sanjay Relan, Rakesh Sharma, Bei Bing Liang, Tommy Hui En Ming, Zhang Baisen, Uttam Kumar Jaiswal, Li Shi Dong, Key Kwok, Davis Lai, Yao Bo, Lee Kwok Wai, S. M. Hau, Palecanda Subbiah, Rhod McNeill, Minda Po and C L Wang for your compassion and generosity.

 

And to the hundreds of nameless individuals, the Filipino migrant workers who have taken a portion of their hard-earned money so that others can eat and survive. To our volunteers who tirelessly roam around Hong Kong to collect in-kind and cash donations for the flood victims. To the organizations like the Junior Dance Club (JDC), BSK-Kowloon/NT and others who went on their way to gather donations from their members.


To our friends in the media - The SUN, True Friends and Hongkong News for publicizing our relief drive. To our friends in the community radio programs - Good Evening Kabayan (GEK) and Pinoy Tayo Saanman (PTS) for airing our appeals to thousands of our compatriots in Hong Kong. To BPI Remittance Ltd. for the free remittance service of our cash donations and to Afreight Cargo for assisting us to ship our in-kind donations.


Thank you very much to all of you. 


Meanwhile, we have decided to set aside a small portion of the money to share it to the victims of typhoon Pepeng that is now in its 10th day in Northern Luzon areas, most of the time in land. A total of HK$15,691.40 will be given to the victims of typhoon Pepeng (international code name Parma) that has already submerged more than 60% of the province of Pangasinan to rainwater due to non-stop rain for 5 days. It has already resulted to at least 224 confirmed deaths due to drowning and landslides especially in the mountainous region of Cordillera. Billions of pesos worth of properties and agricultural crops have been destroyed.


It is also for this reason that we have decided to continue our “Operation Migrante Sagip Kababayan” relief drive in the next few weeks.  We hope that you will continue to give so that we can reach out to more victims back in the Philippines.


Donations of HK$100 or more will be tax deductible. For those who are making direct money transfers or deposits to our account, please send us a copy of the transfer/deposit slip for accounting purposes and for us to issue the official receipt.


For your reference, below are the details of the bank account:


Payee: MFMW Limited

A/C #: 210 116448 883

Bank: Hang Seng Bank


Fax no.: 2526-2894


Thank you very much for all those who have shared what they have to those who are in need. And please continue sending your donations. They will go a long way.


Sincerely yours,


Eman C. Villanueva

Convenor, “Operation Migrante Sagip Kababayan”

(Operation Migrants Rescue Compatriots)


LINKS FOR RELIEF MISSIONS (PHOTOS & VIDEOS)


Victims from Holy Spirit, Quezon City- 163 families range from 5-10 family members


 

Victims from Brgy. Katipunan, Munoz Project 8- 200 families range from 4-8 family members


 

Goods being repacked by volunteers and staff of MIGRANTE International in their office


 

Victims from Taytay, Rizal – relief goods given to 382 families, 1,912 individuals


 

Victims from Montalban, Rizal – relief goods given to 382 families, 1,912 individuals


 

Migrante International's Oplan Sagip Kababayan


 

Bayanihan relief and medical missions in Bagumbayan and Kalawaan


 

Operation “Sagip Migrante” Relief Mission in the Philippines (Video)


 

LINKS FOR NEWS AND INFORMATION ON TYPHOON PEPENG


Death toll from floods, slides now 224 and climbing


Landslide deaths lift storm toll past 540


Pangasinan residents living in ‘virtual ocean’


Trapped Luzon flooding victims look to sky for help


Flooding, landslides kill 137 in Philippines 

 
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
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In Marikina

Photos courtesy of Migrante International
           
     
     
     
     
 
     
     
           
           

In Bagbag, Novaliches

Photos courtesy of Migrante International
           
     
     
     
     
     
 
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